Calmecac facts for kids

A picture (called a Nahuatl glyph) of a calmecac from an old Aztec book (the codex Mendoza).

The Calmecac was a very important school for the sons of Aztec noble families. It was built in Mesoamerica (a region in Central America) a long time ago, during the Late Postclassic period. At the Calmecac, young boys received strict training in religion and military skills. This school helped connect the military, political, and religious leaders of the Aztec community.

We learn a lot about the Calmecac from old books like the Florentine Codex by Bernardino de Sahagún and the Codex Mendoza. While the Calmecac was mostly for nobles, sometimes commoners were also sent there to train as priests.

There was another school called the Tēlpochcalli, or "house of youth." This school was mainly for commoners and some noble youths. They received military training there, but they usually couldn't reach the highest positions of power. The Codex Mendoza suggests that even commoners from the Telpochcalli could sometimes move up in society. Sometimes, sons of lesser wives or younger sons of nobles might have gone to the Telpochcalli instead of the Calmecac. This might have been to avoid competing with other noble youths.

Calmecac: A Special School

The main Calmecac school in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city, was located in the city's important ceremonial center. It was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, a very important Aztec god.

Life and Learning at Calmecac

The Calmecac was like a home for the students while they were training. Boys would enter the school when they were quite young, usually between five and seven years old.

At the Calmecac, students learned many important things. They were taught songs and rituals, which were a big part of Aztec religion. They also learned how to read and write, and they studied the Aztec calendar, called the tōnalpōhualli. This calendar was very important for tracking time and religious events. Students also received basic training that was similar to what was taught at the Telpochcalli.

Military Training

When students reached about fifteen years old, they began formal military training. The most promising sons of nobles received special training from elite military groups. These groups were known as the Jaguar warriors and Eagle warriors. They were highly respected fighters in the Aztec army. These special warriors trained the young nobles in their own quarters, called the cuāuhcalli.

Images for kids

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  A robot illustration.