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| Aztecs just doing their thing. |
THE SOCIAL CULTURE OF THE AZTECS
The Aztecs seemingly lived primitively during the 14th - 16th centuries. Though they may not have been defined as civilized, they had many agricultural and architectural advancements, and were fierce hunters and fighters.
SOCIAL CLASSES
The Aztec culture was dominated by two social classes. The upper class was known as the pilli, who were the leaders, politicians, doctors, and military officers, and the lower class or commoners were known as the macehualli, which would be the farmers, warriors, and craftsmen. Then you had your slaves. However, the slaves were usually very well-treated. Slavery was not hereditary. You could not be born into slavery. The pilli and macehualli are the two most important castes in the social pyramid, but here is a picture to give you a more detailed idea of how it was.
EDUCATION
The Aztecs were all generally educated. Boys received a wider education than girls, who learned to cook and take care of a family. Women actually had a lot of say in society. This mandatory education is actually very rare, historically. It is similar to the public school system of the U.S. The boys were trained as warriors and leaders. The social hierarchy was still evident in the education system. The children of the higher pilli were taught to be doctors, teachers, priests and politicians. The children of the macehualli were taught to be warriors and tradesmen.
The Aztecs seemingly lived primitively during the 14th - 16th centuries. Though they may not have been defined as civilized, they had many agricultural and architectural advancements, and were fierce hunters and fighters.
SOCIAL CLASSES
The Aztec culture was dominated by two social classes. The upper class was known as the pilli, who were the leaders, politicians, doctors, and military officers, and the lower class or commoners were known as the macehualli, which would be the farmers, warriors, and craftsmen. Then you had your slaves. However, the slaves were usually very well-treated. Slavery was not hereditary. You could not be born into slavery. The pilli and macehualli are the two most important castes in the social pyramid, but here is a picture to give you a more detailed idea of how it was.
EDUCATION
The Aztecs were all generally educated. Boys received a wider education than girls, who learned to cook and take care of a family. Women actually had a lot of say in society. This mandatory education is actually very rare, historically. It is similar to the public school system of the U.S. The boys were trained as warriors and leaders. The social hierarchy was still evident in the education system. The children of the higher pilli were taught to be doctors, teachers, priests and politicians. The children of the macehualli were taught to be warriors and tradesmen.
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| A painting of Aztec children going to school. |
Adult life began around the age of 16. Many boys would join the military, while some stayed and continued their trades. Girls would marry the man they were decided to. They would raise a family together, and even though polygamy was allowed, there would still be a primary wife.
LANGUAGE
The language of the Aztec's was called Nahuatl. It is actually still spoken today. The language actually was what started the Aztec Civilization. When the first Nahuatl speakers began to settle in Mexico, is when the Aztec nation's long timeline begins. To get a glimpse of what Nahuatl language sounded like here is a small clip that will teach you how to count to ten in Nahuatl!
GOVERNMENT
The Aztec Civilization would be considered an empire. At the heart of the empire lay the beutiful city of Tenochtitlan and residing in that city was the current ruler of the Aztecs. The empire had a foundation of city-states, where local governments would vary but all city states would have to pay tribute and taxes to Tenochtitlan. This system worked very well for the Aztecs, and kept the civilians happy and content, while still being able to conquer new lands.
FAMILY
An Aztec family began for the man in his early 20's and the woman in her late teens. The marriage would be arranged and the couple given permission by the leaders. After that family life began. The husband could have many wives, but only needed the ceremony for his first wife.
An Aztec family began for the man in his early 20's and the woman in her late teens. The marriage would be arranged and the couple given permission by the leaders. After that family life began. The husband could have many wives, but only needed the ceremony for his first wife.
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| Literally, tying the knot. A painting of an Aztec wedding ceremony. |
Adultery was a crime punishable by death. Divorce was allowed, but property and money was strictly split between the fueding spouses.
Once married, the family was given land. The woman would care for the home and bear children, and the man would work. This way of marriage and family was very evident in Aztec society.
| An Aztec family sharing a meal. |
Though the tribe is no longer existent, more than a million people who are direct ancestors of the Aztecs are alive today. They still speak Nahautl and reside in the Valley of Mexico. However most are mixes of different tribes and there are also many people who are a mix of Spanish and Aztec. Many people have Aztec roots and a small percent consider themselves pure Aztec.
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