The Aztec social hierarchy was organized into classes, with the emperor at the top as the head of state and military commander. Below the emperor were nobles and warriors, who could rise from lower classes through military success. Commoners included merchants, farmers, artisans, and slaves. Children received specialized education depending on their gender and social class to prepare them for their roles and uphold Aztec cultural virtues of courage, sacrifice, and obedience. Laws protected citizens and slaves alike.

1. Aztecs Chapter 8
For the Good of the People

2. Aztec Social Hierarchy
 How did the structure of the Aztec society
tell us what was important to the Aztec
people?
http://history.missouristate.edu/jchuchiak/Webpage%20Images/HST%20397--
Theme%2023--Aztec_social_hierarchy.htm

3. Aztec Social Hierarchy
 No matter what class you were born into,
you could rise in the ranks to nobility
 Warriors could rise to the greatest levels
even if they were only a poor peasant to
begin
– Then, you could become emperor because
they were chosen from the nobles

4. The Emperor
 Read page 171
 Moctezuma was emperor when the
Spanish arrived
 He had the title of “Great Speaker”
– Treated like a god, obeyed without question
– Commander of the army
– Head of state
– Chief Priest

5. The 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

6. Family Clans
 Organized into units called Calpolli (Call-
POLE-lee)
– Live in the same neighbourhood and
worshipped at same temple
– Could be based on the work that people did
 Goldsmiths could make up one, feather makers,
etc.
 Elected a captain and council
 Assigned land and houses to its residents

7. Merchants
 Made up richest calpolli in Tenochtitlan
– Trading expeditions
– Brought back luxuries, goods, and acted as
spies
– Helped for planning during war
– Sold goods in the markets
– Paid taxes on their profits
tarlton.law.utexas.edu/rare/aztec/Property.htm

8. Farmers
 Skilled hunters and fishers, as well as
growing crops
– Sold in the market as well as keeping for
themselves
– Gave up a share of their produce in taxes
– Useful service that helped state to survive
– Helped with projects for state
http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=hea

9. Artisans
 Demand for finer things in life
– Clothes, art, gold, jewelery, etc.
– Mask makers, goldsmiths, and feather
workers
– Quetzal birds were in high demand
 Only members of nobility could wear the feather
 Sacred feathers, associated with Quetzalcoatl
 Obtained by tribute as well
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aztec-Artisans-Dyeing-Feathers-
from-an-Account-of-Aztec-Crafts-in-Central-Mexico-Mid-16th-
Century-Posters_i1742274_.htm

10. Aztec Education- Calmecac
 What they studied in  What they trained to
their schools be (careers)
– Generals in the army
– Astronomy/Astrology
– Judges
– Mathematics
– Priests
– Reading – Scribes
– Writing – High government
– Music officials
– Diplomats
– Law
– Teachers
– Calendar

11. Other schools for Aztecs
 Military training
– All boys were trained to be warriors
– Serve as a servant for soldier to follow army
– At 18: became an active warrior
 For commoners
– Called “telpochcalli”
 Did not need to learn to read and write
 Oral lessons
 Music, physical labor (for boys), and home skills
(for girls)

12. Other schools for Aztecs (cont.)
 Educating Aztec women
– Little political power, but had a good
education
 Every girl regardless of rank attended school
 Around 16 she was married
 Some women went to army as doctors and healers
 Some were priestesses
 Some were matchmakers or midwives
http://www.freewebs.com/fairypage/aztec%20women1.jpg

13. Aztec Society
 Focused on producing
good citizens
– Part of the young
person’s education
Virtues of ideal Aztec Citizen
Courage Self-sacrifice Modesty Clean Living Obedience
Aztecs were The group was No one, not even People had to keep Everyone had to
expected to show considered more the greatest warrior, themselves healthy obey superiors
courage and deal important than the was to boast about and avoid over- without question,
with hardships individual. Every personal indulging in food because this helped
without complaining, Aztec had to be achievements or do and drink. The preserve the social
because it made the willing to sacrifice anything else to Aztecs punished order.
army strong. possessions, stand out from the harshly what they
comfort, even life crowd. considered evil
itself for the good of behaviour.
society.

14. Laws and Lawmaking
 Had written laws
– Reminded people of their responsibilities as citizens
– Nobles and the emperor were required to obey the
laws too
– Nobles were actually often judged harsher because
they set a good example for others
– Could appeal decisions from lower court to the high
court and even to the emperor
– Aztecs did not have prisons, so the punishment was
often serious (slavery or fines for lesser crimes, theft
and murder was a death sentence)

15. Slavery
 Aztec slaves performed necessary work!
– Laws protected them as well
– If they were beaten to death, the noble could
be executed
– If the slaves could escape from the slave
marketplace and run to the emperor’s palace,
they won their freedom
 1. Not shameful to be a slave (just bad luck)
 2. Not permanent (children born to slaves were
free)

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