Aztecs Chapter 8Aztecs Chapter 8

For the Good of the PeopleFor the Good of the People

Aztec Social HierarchyAztec Social Hierarchy

How did the structure of the Aztec How did the structure of the Aztec society tell us what was important to society tell us what was important to the Aztec people?the Aztec people?

http://history.missouristate.edu/jchuchiak/Webpage%20Images/HST%20397--Theme%2023--Aztec_social_hierarchy.htm

Aztec Social HierarchyAztec Social Hierarchy

No matter what class you were born No matter what class you were born into, you could rise in the ranks to into, you could rise in the ranks to nobilitynobility

Warriors could rise to the greatest Warriors could rise to the greatest levels even if they were only a poor levels even if they were only a poor peasant to beginpeasant to begin– Then, you could become emperor Then, you could become emperor

because they were chosen from the because they were chosen from the noblesnobles

The EmperorThe Emperor

Read page 171Read page 171 Moctezuma was emperor when the Moctezuma was emperor when the

Spanish arrivedSpanish arrived He had the title of “Great Speaker”He had the title of “Great Speaker”

– Treated like a god, obeyed without Treated like a god, obeyed without questionquestion

– Commander of the armyCommander of the army– Head of stateHead of state– Chief PriestChief Priest

The EmperorThe Emperor

http://en.epochtimes.com/news_images/2006-1-13-aztecheaddress.gif

http://northernblue.org/tmach/globalmiles/06jun/jun30montezuma.jpg

http://www.archaeologyonline.net/indology/herman-cortes-montezuma.jpg

Family ClansFamily Clans

Organized into units called Calpolli Organized into units called Calpolli (Call-POLE-lee)(Call-POLE-lee)– Live in the same neighbourhood and Live in the same neighbourhood and

worshipped at same templeworshipped at same temple– Could be based on the work that people Could be based on the work that people

diddid Goldsmiths could make up one, feather Goldsmiths could make up one, feather

makers, etc.makers, etc. Elected a captain and councilElected a captain and council Assigned land and houses to its residentsAssigned land and houses to its residents

MerchantsMerchants

Made up richest calpolli in Made up richest calpolli in TenochtitlanTenochtitlan– Trading expeditionsTrading expeditions– Brought back luxuries, goods, and acted Brought back luxuries, goods, and acted

as spiesas spies– Helped for planning during warHelped for planning during war– Sold goods in the marketsSold goods in the markets– Paid taxes on their profitsPaid taxes on their profits

tarlton.law.utexas.edu/rare/aztec/Property.htm

FarmersFarmers

Skilled hunters and fishers, as well as Skilled hunters and fishers, as well as growing cropsgrowing crops– Sold in the market as well as keeping for Sold in the market as well as keeping for

themselvesthemselves– Gave up a share of their produce in Gave up a share of their produce in

taxestaxes– Useful service that helped state to Useful service that helped state to

survivesurvive– Helped with projects for stateHelped with projects for state

http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=hea

ArtisansArtisans

Demand for finer things in lifeDemand for finer things in life– Clothes, art, gold, jewelery, etc.Clothes, art, gold, jewelery, etc.– Mask makers, goldsmiths, and feather Mask makers, goldsmiths, and feather

workersworkers– Quetzal birds were in high demandQuetzal birds were in high demand

Only members of nobility could wear the Only members of nobility could wear the featherfeather

Sacred feathers, associated with Sacred feathers, associated with QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl

Obtained by tribute as wellObtained by tribute as wellhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aztec-Artisans-Dyeing-Feathers-from-an-Account-of-Aztec-Crafts-in-Central-Mexico-Mid-16th-Century-Posters_i1742274_.htm

Aztec Education- CalmecacAztec Education- Calmecac

What they studied in What they studied in their schoolstheir schools– Astronomy/AstrologyAstronomy/Astrology– MathematicsMathematics– ReadingReading– WritingWriting– MusicMusic– LawLaw– CalendarCalendar

What they trained What they trained to be (careers)to be (careers)– Generals in the armyGenerals in the army– JudgesJudges– PriestsPriests– ScribesScribes– High government High government

officialsofficials– DiplomatsDiplomats– TeachersTeachers

Other schools for AztecsOther schools for Aztecs

Military trainingMilitary training– All boys were trained to be warriorsAll boys were trained to be warriors– Serve as a servant for soldier to follow Serve as a servant for soldier to follow

armyarmy– At 18: became an active warriorAt 18: became an active warrior

For commonersFor commoners– Called “telpochcalli”Called “telpochcalli”

Did not need to learn to read and writeDid not need to learn to read and write Oral lessonsOral lessons Music, physical labor (for boys), and home skills Music, physical labor (for boys), and home skills

(for girls)(for girls)

Other schools for Aztecs Other schools for Aztecs (cont.)(cont.)

Educating Aztec womenEducating Aztec women– Little political power, but had a good Little political power, but had a good

educationeducation Every girl regardless of rank attended schoolEvery girl regardless of rank attended school Around 16 she was marriedAround 16 she was married Some women went to army as doctors and Some women went to army as doctors and

healershealers Some were priestessesSome were priestesses Some were matchmakers or midwivesSome were matchmakers or midwives

http://www.freewebs.com/fairypage/aztec%20women1.jpg

Aztec SocietyAztec Society

Focused on Focused on producing good producing good citizenscitizens– Part of the young Part of the young

person’s educationperson’s education

CourageCourage Self-sacrificeSelf-sacrifice ModestyModesty Clean LivingClean Living ObedienceObedience

Aztecs were Aztecs were expected to show expected to show courage and deal courage and deal with hardships with hardships without without complaining, complaining, because it made because it made the army strong.the army strong.

The group was The group was considered more considered more important than important than the individual. the individual. Every Aztec had Every Aztec had to be willing to to be willing to sacrifice sacrifice possessions, possessions, comfort, even life comfort, even life itself for the good itself for the good of society.of society.

No one, not even No one, not even the greatest the greatest warrior, was to warrior, was to boast about boast about personal personal achievements or achievements or do anything else do anything else to stand out from to stand out from the crowd.the crowd.

People had to People had to keep themselves keep themselves healthy and avoid healthy and avoid over-indulging in over-indulging in food and drink. food and drink. The Aztecs The Aztecs punished harshly punished harshly what they what they considered evil considered evil behaviour.behaviour.

Everyone had to Everyone had to obey superiors obey superiors without question, without question, because this because this helped preserve helped preserve the social order.the social order.

Virtues of ideal Aztec CitizenVirtues of ideal Aztec Citizen

Laws and LawmakingLaws and Lawmaking Had written lawsHad written laws

– Reminded people of their responsibilities as Reminded people of their responsibilities as citizenscitizens

– Nobles and the emperor were required to obey Nobles and the emperor were required to obey the laws toothe laws too

– Nobles were actually often judged harsher Nobles were actually often judged harsher because they set a good example for othersbecause they set a good example for others

– Could appeal decisions from lower court to the Could appeal decisions from lower court to the high court and even to the emperorhigh court and even to the emperor

– Aztecs did not have prisons, so the punishment Aztecs did not have prisons, so the punishment was often serious (slavery or fines for lesser was often serious (slavery or fines for lesser crimes, theft and murder was a death sentence)crimes, theft and murder was a death sentence)

SlaverySlavery

Aztec slaves performed necessary Aztec slaves performed necessary work!work!– Laws protected them as wellLaws protected them as well– If they were beaten to death, the noble If they were beaten to death, the noble

could be executedcould be executed– If the slaves could escape from the slave If the slaves could escape from the slave

marketplace and run to the emperor’s marketplace and run to the emperor’s palace, they won their freedompalace, they won their freedom 1. Not shameful to be a slave (just bad luck)1. Not shameful to be a slave (just bad luck) 2. Not permanent (children born to slaves 2. Not permanent (children born to slaves

were free)were free)

SlaverySlavery

http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/Renaissance/Aztecs/Slavery.jpghttp://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/Renaissance/Aztecs/Slavery.jpg