Aztec Society
The history of the Aztec people is rich and complex. Here's some insight on what you'll be experiencing on your trip!
A Social AffairThe Aztec society was made of 8 social classes: the ruler, warriors, priests and priestesses, pipiltin (nobles) , macehualtin (commoners), free poor, servants and serfs (slaves). The noble class consisted of government and military leaders and high level priests. Other priests who had their own class, had a set of rules they had to obey by. These rules included no drinking of alcohol and to abstain from marriage and sexual relations. If these rules were not followed, the result would be death. Commoners were self sufficient and self-governed. They lived in calpulli's (communities) that were led by a noble man and a council of neighbourhood elders. The serf's consisted of criminals, prisoners of war who were not used for sacrifice and children who were used to pay off a parents debt. Women were allowed to work in their calpulli in the markets or as council, however they were not allowed to serve as warriors. All Aztec children went to school but what they learned depended on gender and social class.Each calpulli had a telpochcalli (school) for commoners. Noble children or exceptionally gifted commoners would go to calmecac where they were trained to be priests and government officials.
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