1. FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE
Aztec Social hierarchy
Aztec education
Contributing to society
AZTECS UNIT HANDOUT 2

2. THE AZTEC SOCIAL HIERARCHY
Traditionally, a person status in society was dictated by the class they were born into
In Aztec society there were two main classes, nobles and commoners
Most first nations societies prior to the arrival of the Europeans were hierarchical
A hierarchy is a social system where status is ranked and power is concentrated in the higher ranks
At the top of the Aztec hierarchy was Huey Tlattonai, which means the Great Speaker

3. THE AZTEC SOCIAL HIERARCHY
EMPEROR
NOBILITY AND PRIESTS
MERCHANTS , ARTISANS, SOLDIERS
FISHERS AND FARMERS AND WOMEN
SLAVES

4. THE AZTEC SOCIAL HEIRARCHY
EMPEROR
The leader came from nobles but became his own class. Role was not inherited. Council of nobles voted for the Emperor.
NOBLES
are 10-15% of population but held most of the power. Priests came from the nobles.
COMMONERS
anyone not a noble.
Generally determined by birth, but people could work up into other classes
There were different amounts of wealth and power between different groups in the same level

5. ROLE OF THE EMPEROR Treated like a god People obeyed without question
Given all luxuries possible
Lived in a palace
Carried through the streets by servants
Huge responsibilities as chief priest and commander in chief of Aztec army

6. FAMILY CLANS Society organized into units called calpolli
Lived in the same neighbourhood and worshipped at the same temple
Some based on occupations others based on family
Calpolli owned the land were members lived
Had an elected captain and council
Assigned land and houses
Collected taxes
Kept neighbourhoods clean

7. MERCHANTS AND FARMERS MERCHANTS Richest calpolli
Went on expeditions, acted as spies, brought back goods
Paid taxes for the benefit of the state
Detailed knowledge of geography and foreign cities made them valuable advisors during wartime
FARMERS
Grew crops
Skilled hunters and fishers
Sold goods in market
Gave share of produce in taxes

8. ARTISANS Artisans are skilled craftworkers
Mask makers, goldsmiths, feather workers were some examples of Aztec artisans
Feather work was only worn by nobility as it was the most valued item in Aztec society
The most prized feathers were of the quetzal bird
they were associated with the god , Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent
Aztecs collected feathers as part of tribute they collected from people they ruled
Tribute were items of value from conquered people

9. THE TLATELOCIO MARKET It was the largest market of the Aztec empire
Cortes wrote that he believed it could hold up to 60,000 people at a time
Historians believed up to 25,000 people visited per day
Goods on display included fabric, clothing, pottery, jewellery and food
Cacao beans were so valuable they were a form of currency
The market had its own police force and vendors who cheated their customers were sold into slavery

10. WHAT YOU COULD BUY AT THE TLATELOLCO MARKET
ITEM
PRICE
Cotton cloak
100 cacao beans
Dugout canoe
One cotton cloak or 100 cacao beans
A load of red dye
Two cotton cloaks
A slave
30 cotton cloaks
A slave who could sing and dance
40 cotton cloaks
The market was a great source of pride it was the first place the Aztecs showed the Spanish upon their arrival in Tenochtitlan

11. STATUS AND THE AZTECS
Clothing, jewellery, size and location of house all indicated status
Success on the battlefield can mean advancement
Warrior taking four enemies prisoner immediately eligible for high social status
Aztecs attitude towards wealth was a contrast to most first nations for whom displays of wealth were considered selfish
What are modern examples of status symbols?

12. AZTEC EDUCATION
The Aztecs pampered their children until age three after which they were expected to be hardworking and obedient
Goal was said to be to create citizens with a stone heart and a stone face
Aztec children were educated at home until they started school
It is estimated they started school from ages 10-15
All schooling was free and every child went to school
There were two types of school
The calmecac for nobles
The telpochcalli for commoners

13. THE CALMECAC
Located in their neighbourhoods and usually part of a temple
Studied religion, reading, writing, math, music, law and the calendar
Only nobles were educated to read and write
Writing was a series of glyphs
Pictures or symbols used in writing
Number system was a base 20 using both fingers and toes to count
All boys trained as warriors
At age 15 boys became warriors and took an active role in battle

14. THE CALMECAC
WHAT THEY STUDIED
WHAT THEY TRAINED TO BE
ASTRONOMY
Generals in the army
MATHEMATICS
Judges
READING
Priests
WRITING
Scribes
MUSIC
High Government officials
LAW
Diplomats
THE CALENDAR
Teachers
When an Aztec boy was born his umbilical cord was buried in the battlefield. When a girl was born her umbilical was buried beneath the fireplace in the family home. What do you think is the symbolic significance of each placement?

15. TELPOCHCALLI EDUCATION http://www. youtube. com/watch
Received oral (not written) instruction in history, religion, citizenship, and music
Specific instruction in flutes, drums and the sacred dances
Boys did lots of physical labour at school
Families trained their children for their family trade
Girls were educated regardless of social rank
However at age 16 most girls got married and moved in with their husbands
Women also had opportunities as army doctors, healers, priestesses, matchmakers and midwives

16. AZTEC CITIZENSHIP Students were taught to be good citizens
VIRTUES OF IDEAL AZTEC CITIZENS
HOW YOU DEMONSTRATED THE VIRTUE
COURAGE
Show courage despite hardships without complaining
SELF- SACRFICE
The group was more important than the individual. Every Aztec had to be willing to sacrifice possessions, comfort for the good of society
MODESTY
No one was to boast about personal achievements, or do anything else to stand out from the crowd
CLEAN LIVING
People had to keep themselves healthy and avoid overindulging in food and drink
OBEDIENCE
Everyone had to obey their superiors without question, this helped preserve this social order

17. LAWS AND LAWMAKING
System of written laws protected the rights of the people
Nobles were often judged more severely than commoners as they were to set a good example
Small crimes-punishment fines or slavery
The Aztecs did not have prisons so punishment for serious crimes, like theft was death
There was some protection for slaves under Aztec law
Slavery was not considered a permanent or shameful condition

18. SLAVE LAWS
Itzcoatl was the 4th Aztec emperor even though he was born the son of a slave woman
Were protected because they were valuable
If a noble beat a slave to death, the noble could be executed
If a slave could escape to the Emperor while being sold, they won their freedom
Slaves could maintain their property while they paid off their debts
Slaves could become free when they cleared their debts
Children born to slaves were free