Aztec society facts for kids

The Aztec society was a very organized and complex group of people who lived in central Mexico a long time ago, before the Spanish arrived. Their way of life was built on the ideas and traditions of other ancient cultures in a big region called Mesoamerica.

Politically, the Aztecs lived in independent city-states called altepetls. These city-states were made up of smaller groups called calpulli, which were usually like big family groups. Socially, Aztec society had a clear division between nobles and common people. Both groups had their own levels of status, jobs, and power.

Economically, the Aztecs relied a lot on farming. Warfare was also very important to their economy. They also had a lot of trade, both nearby and over long distances, and many people had special jobs making different goods.

Understanding the Aztecs

Aztec society grew from the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica. Their language, daily life, and technology were all shaped by their neighbors. But even with these influences, the Aztecs created their own unique social groups, political systems, traditions, and fun activities.

Where the Aztecs Came From

Around the year 500 CE, tribes speaking early forms of the Nahuatl language moved south into Mesoamerica. They were hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. When they arrived, the region already had advanced societies like the Teotihuacanos, the Maya, and the Totonacs.

These older civilizations influenced the early Aztecs. The Aztecs learned to farm and settled down. They also developed similar technology to their neighbors. Even so, they kept their own language, many religious beliefs, and some old customs. So, Aztec society became a mix of Mesoamerican ways and their own traditions. Most parts of Aztec society were similar to what existed in the surrounding areas.

Who Were the Aztecs?

When we talk about "Aztec," we usually mean all the people in central Mexico who spoke the Nahuatl language. This includes more than just the people from Tenochtitlan or the groups in the Aztec Triple Alliance. If we mean a specific group, like the people from Tenochtitlan, we'll use their specific name, such as the Mexica.

How Aztec Society Was Organized

The main social difference in Aztec society was between nobles, called pīpiltin, and common people, called mācehualtin. Nobles had many special rights. The most important was being able to receive tribute (payments or goods) from commoners who lived on their land.

Commoners could own and farm land, and manage their own belongings. But they still had to provide services to their lords and their `calpulli`, like paying tribute and serving in the military. It was hard to move between the noble and commoner groups. However, within each group, there were many different levels, and people could move up or down within their own level. For example, the pochteca, who were long-distance traders, were commoners. But they had many special rights, almost like lesser nobles.

The Calpulli: Big Family Groups

The calpulli was a group of several related families. The word calpulli means "big house" in Nahuatl. It's not fully clear what a `calpulli` was exactly. Some describe it as a clan, a town, a neighborhood, or a farming group. Another Nahuatl word for `calpulli` was tlaxilacalli, meaning "a partition of houses."

A local chief, called a calpuleh, led the `calpulli`. Members of the `calpulli` were usually related to him. The chief gave `calpulli` members land to farm or helped them find other jobs. In return, they gave him tribute and loyalty.

Each `calpulli` had a temple for its own god. They also had a school called the Telpochcalli. Young men learned many things there, especially military skills. In some Aztec city-states, `calpullis` specialized in a certain trade, like a medieval trade guild. This was true in Otompan, Texcoco, and Tlatelolco. Other `calpullis` were made up of groups of immigrants from other parts of Mesoamerica who settled together. For example, Tenochtitlan had `calpullis` of Otomi, Mixtecs, and Tlapanecs.

The Altepetl: City-States

The altepetl (meaning "water-mountain" in Nahuatl) was a city-state. It was made up of several `calpullis` and ruled by a tlatoani. The `altepetl` controlled a specific area and defended it, sometimes even expanding it through warfare. The `tlatoani` was the leader of the most powerful `calpulli`, often because his family had a very respected history. The word `altepetl` referred to both the land and its people. Being part of an `altepetl` was the main way people identified their ethnic group in Mesoamerica, more than by the language they spoke.

Family and Ancestry

Family and ancestry were very important in Aztec society. Your family line decided your social standing. Nobles traced their families back to mythical times, saying they came from the god Quetzalcoatl. Important families also traced their history through ruling families, especially those with a Toltec background.

The extended family group was the basic social unit. People lived together based on family ties, forming `calpullis`. Ancestry was traced through both the mother's and father's sides, but the father's side was usually preferred.

Marriage Customs

Aztec marriage customs were similar to those of other Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans. Aztecs usually married later, in their late teens and early twenties. In Mayan culture, it was common for parents to arrange marriages for children who were still very young.

Aztec marriages began with the parents of the boy. After talking with their extended family, the parents would go to a professional matchmaker. The matchmaker would then talk to the girl's family. The girl's parents would tell the matchmaker if they accepted the proposal. Brides were expected to be virgins before marriage.

How Aztec Politics Worked

Historian James Lockhart said that Aztec society was built by combining many smaller, separate parts. These parts stayed somewhat independent but worked together because they had similar jobs and purposes. This means that Aztec society was organized from the bottom up, not from the top down. The main political units were made up of several smaller parts working together.

Alliances and Power

`Altepetl` states often tried to control neighboring `altepetl`s through warfare. Weaker `altepetl`s would be taken over by stronger ones and forced to pay tribute. Sometimes, the weaker `altepetl`s would form alliances to overthrow a dominant one.

Some alliances lasted only a short time, while others were long-term. In these long-term alliances, a group of `altepetl`s would come together to form what seemed like a single political group. One example was the alliance between the four `altepetl`s of Tlaxcallan: Ocotelolco, Tizatlan, Quiyahuiztlan, and Tepeticpac. Even though they had four independent rulers and some internal competition, they were usually seen as one group.

Another important alliance was the Aztec Triple Alliance between Tlacopan, Texcoco, and Tenochtitlan. This alliance was first formed to end the control of the `altepetl` Azcapotzalco. The Aztec Triple Alliance eventually gained control over most of Mesoamerica and became known as the Aztec Empire. Some recent studies suggest that Tenochtitlan was actually the most powerful `altepetl` within the alliance all along.

Aztec Economy

The Aztec economy relied on both trade and military conquests. Each `altepetl` often produced a unique trade good. This meant there were many merchants and skilled craftspeople. While Aztecs traded goods and services with each other, agricultural trade was less common. This led to a large group of people who worked in farming.

Farming Methods

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs had a very successful farming empire. They did this without wheels or animals to pull loads. They mainly used four farming methods: rainfall cultivation, terrace agriculture, irrigation, and Chinampa.

The simplest and oldest farming method used by the Aztecs was "rainfall cultivation." This meant they relied on rain to water their crops.

In hilly areas, especially in the highlands, the Aztecs used terrace farming. Terraces were like steps built into the hillside. They helped make the soil deeper and stopped soil erosion. Terraces were built by piling up stone walls parallel to the slope. Then, dirt was filled in behind the walls to create flat, usable farmland. There were different types of terraces for different slopes.

In the valleys, they used irrigation farming. Dams redirected water from natural springs to the fields. This allowed for more regular harvests because the crops didn't depend only on rain. Irrigation systems existed before the Aztecs, but they built longer and more complex canal systems. They even redirected a large part of the Cuauhtitlan River to water huge areas. The network of canals was very detailed.

In the swampy areas near Lake Xochimilco, the Aztecs used a unique farming method called chinampas. Chinampas were raised areas of land in the water. They were made by layering mud from the lake bottom with plant matter. These "raised beds" were about 2 to 4 meters wide and 20 to 40 meters long. They rose about 1 meter above the water and were separated by narrow canals. Farmers could use canoes to move between them. Chinampas were extremely fertile and could produce, on average, seven crops a year! To plant, farmers first made "seedbeds" or reed rafts. They planted seeds on these rafts and let them sprout. Once sprouted, they moved the young plants to the chinampas. This greatly reduced the growing time.

Aztec farmers were either general laborers or specialists. General laborers included slaves, manual workers, or farm hands. Specialists were in charge of things like choosing the best seeds and planning crop rotations.

The Aztecs are also known for domesticating a type of wild turkey native to their region.

Warfare: A Key Part of Life

The Aztec army was usually made up of many common people with basic military training. They were supported by smaller groups of professional warriors from the noble class. These professional warriors belonged to special warrior societies and were ranked based on their achievements.

The Aztec state focused on expanding its territory, dominating others, and collecting tribute from other city-states. Because of this, warfare became a very important part of Aztec politics, economy, and religion.

Trade and Business

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs had a strong economy thanks to a successful trade market. The markets, found in the center of many communities, were well-organized and offered many different goods. Spanish explorers were very impressed by them.

Local merchants, called `tlacuilo`, traded everyday items and food. This included gold, silver, other precious stones, cloth, cotton, animal skins, and both farmed and wild game. These local markets were important for business and for people to share information. Since there were no animals to carry goods, local markets were essential for Aztec trade.

However, Aztec nobles got many of their goods from distant places within and outside the empire. This created a need for long-distance trade. Professional merchants called `pochteca` handled this long-distance trade. They held a high status in Aztec society, just below the noble class. The `pochteca` were responsible for getting the special materials that the noble class used to show off their wealth. These materials often came from foreign lands.

Because the `pochteca` were so successful, many became as wealthy as the nobles. But they had to hide their wealth from the public. The `pochteca` were a well-organized group who reported to 12 main locations across the Empire.

The highest officials among the `pochteca` were the `pochteca tlatoque`. These were older `pochteca` who no longer traveled. Instead, they managed younger `pochteca` and oversaw the marketplaces. Another group of `pochteca` were slave traders, known as `tlatoani`. They were often considered the richest merchants because they played a key role in capturing people.

A group of trader spies, called the `natural oztomeca`, made up the last group of `pochteca`. They had to travel in disguise while searching for rare goods. The `natural oztomeca` also gathered information at markets and reported it to higher-ranking `pochteca`.

All trade in the Aztec Empire was watched over by officers. They patrolled the markets to make sure buyers were not cheated by merchants. Markets were very busy, with large cities having up to 20,000 people. So, good organization was vital, and the Aztecs succeeded by strongly enforcing their laws.

Aztec Education

The Mexica, the main group of the Aztec Empire, were among the first people in the world to have mandatory education for almost all children. This was true regardless of whether they were boys or girls, or what their family's status was.

Until age fourteen, children were taught by their parents. However, the leaders of their `calpulli` supervised this education. Children regularly went to their local temples to show their progress.

Part of this education involved learning special sayings called huehuetlatolli ("The sayings of the old"). These sayings taught the Aztecs' ideals. They included speeches and sayings for every occasion, from welcoming new babies to saying goodbye at death. Fathers advised their daughters to be respectful and clean. Mothers told their daughters to support their husbands, even if they were humble farmers. Boys were taught to be humble, obedient, and hard workers. Many of these sayings seemed to have developed over centuries, even before the Aztecs, and were likely adopted from other Nahua cultures.

Children were taught at home until about 15 years old. But all Aztec children, boys and girls, were expected to attend school for some time between the ages of 10 and 20. Boys and girls usually started school at age 15.

There were two main types of schools:

• The telpochcalli, or House of the Young, taught history, religion, military fighting skills, and a trade or craft (like farming or making things by hand). Some `telpochcalli` students were chosen for the army, but most returned home.
• The calmecac was for advanced learning. It was mostly attended by the sons of nobles. Students here learned to become leaders (`tlatoque`), priests, scholars/teachers (`tlatimini`), healers (`tizitl`), and codex painters (`tlacuilos`). They studied rituals, ancient and modern history, reading and writing, calendars, some geometry, songs (poetry), and military arts, just like at the `telpochcalli`.

Each `calpulli` often specialized in certain handicrafts. Teaching these crafts was very important for the city's income.

Healers (`tizitl`) had different specialties. Some were trained to identify medicinal plants. Others prepared medicines that were sold in special places. More than a hundred preparations are known, including deodorants and remedies for various ailments. There were also `tizitl` who specialized in surgery, digestive diseases, teeth, nose, and skin problems.

Aztec teachers (`tlamatimine`) believed in a strict education. This included cold baths in the morning, hard work, physical punishment, and endurance tests. The goal was to create strong and resilient people.

There is some debate about whether the `calmecac` was only for the children of nobles. Some accounts say common people could choose where to study. It's possible that common people preferred the `telpochcalli` because a warrior could advance more quickly through military skills. Becoming a priest or a `tlacuilo` was not a fast way to rise from a low social position.

Girls were taught skills for home and raising children. They were not taught to read or write. Some girls were trained as midwives and received full training as healers; they were also called `tizitl`. Female `tizitl` would care for women throughout their reproductive lives. They would advise young wives and watch for any problems during pregnancy. Their main goal was to save the woman's life. All women were taught to be involved "in the things of god." There are paintings of women leading religious ceremonies, but no records of female priests.

There were also two other special opportunities for talented individuals. Some were chosen for the house of song and dance, and others for the ball game. Both of these jobs had high status.

Fun and Games

Recreation in Aztec society came in different forms. Ullamaliztli, the ball game, was a big part of their society and had religious meaning. Dance was used for entertainment, religious purposes, or politics.

Ullamaliztli: The Ball Game

The Mesoamerican ball game, `Ullamaliztli`, was a popular sport with deep cultural and religious significance.

Dance: More Than Just Fun

In Aztec society, dance could be for entertainment, religious ceremonies, or political displays. For entertainment, dances were performed in temples or private areas for nobles. These performances often included songs, music, and sometimes funny skits. For religious or ceremonial purposes, dances followed the sacred Aztec calendar and its ritual cycle. Dance was also used in politics to show imperial power and to impress the gods for successful wars and conquests.

Bathing and Staying Clean

An image from the Codex Magliabechiano, showing a person bathing.

Spanish writings describe how clean the people of Mesoamerica were during and after the conquest. Bernal Díaz del Castillo wrote that Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, was "...Very neat and cleanly, bathing every day each afternoon...".

Bathing was not just for the rich; everyone did it. The writer Tomás López Medel noted that "Bathing and the custom of washing oneself is as common among the Indians, both in cold and hot lands, as eating. This is done in fountains and rivers and other water they can reach, with nothing but pure water..."

The Mesoamerican bath, called temazcal in Spanish, comes from the Nahuatl words temaz ("steam") and calli ("house"). It's a small, often dome-shaped room. Outside, there's a firebox that heats a part of the wall made of volcanic rocks. Once the wall is hot, water is poured on it to make steam. As the steam fills the upper part of the room, a person uses a branch to direct the steam to the bathers lying on the ground. They also give massages. Then, bathers scrub themselves with a small, flat river stone. Finally, the person brings buckets of water with soap and herbs for rinsing. This bath also had religious importance and was linked to the goddess Toci. It was also used for healing when medicinal herbs were added to the water for the steam. The `temazcal` is still used in Mexico today.

Learning About Aztec History

Most of what we know about Aztec society comes from documents written in Spanish in the first century after the Spanish conquest. Important sources include the Florentine Codex, which is a 12-volume description of Aztec society before the Spanish arrived, put together by Bernardino de Sahagún. Other sources are the writings of Diego Durán and the descriptions from the first Spanish conquerors like Hernán Cortés and Bernal Díaz del Castillo.

In recent years, archaeologists have also studied ancient Aztec civilization. Their discoveries have provided important information about Aztec society, especially about their social structures and trade.