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Aztec Society
The Aztecs were a highly stratified and successful society. When the Aztecs were founded they were an altrpetl, which is “an ethnic state led by a tlatoani or ruler.” (Bulliet 289) The altrpeti was made up of calpolli, kinship groups, which were like the building blocks of their society (Bulliet 289). The calpollis were made up of hundreds of families and they controlled things such as land allocation, tax collection, and local religious life. (Bulliet 289) The military units were an example of a calpolli (Bulliet 290).
Aztec women held power and some control in the Aztec society. Although the women worked diligently in the home, some also worked as teachers and priestesses. (Bulliet 290) Large estates were usually owned by the elite class of the Aztecs. These estates were usually run by the slaves and non land owning commoners.
There were three main social classes they were the elite, the commoners, and the slaves (Wikipedia 1). Even these classes were made up of many distinct divisions of power and influence (Wikipedia 1). The elite, pilli, class consists of warriors, priests, leaders and nobles (The Aztecs 1). The commoners, macehualles, were usually merchants/traders of the state and farmers(The Aztecs 1). An example of the stratification in classes was the poorest of the commoners didn’t own land and just cultivated in return for part of the crops (The History of the Aztecs 1). Many of the lower class didn’t have power in the society although some were able to “climb the ladder” by entering the priesthood or being very successful on the battlefield (Bulliet 290). Also, some merchants could gain prestige, wealth, and power, but none of them were ever able to ever reach the nobility level (Bulliet 290). The lowest class in the Aztec society were the slaves. The slaves had no rights but were able to buy back their freedom if they had enough money. (The History of the Aztecs 1).
The Aztecs society affected all parts of their culture. The calpolli (social structure) were divided up into many groups. Each group had a specific “job” in their society, such as tax collection, land allocation or fighting in the military. The social classes were divided up on how they made a living, such as a merchant, thus affecting the economic system of the Aztec society (infrastructure). In turn these groups transformed how people were viewed amongst the Aztecs (super structure) and what they were allowed to do in society.
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Bibliography
"Aztec Society -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_society>. "Aztec Society." Aztec History. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.aztec-history.net/aztec_society>. Bulliet, Richard W., Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsh, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples: a Global History. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Print. "The MMexica / Aztecs." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/AZTECS.HTM>.
Aztec women held power and some control in the Aztec society. Although the women worked diligently in the home, some also worked as teachers and priestesses. (Bulliet 290) Large estates were usually owned by the elite class of the Aztecs. These estates were usually run by the slaves and non land owning commoners.
There were three main social classes they were the elite, the commoners, and the slaves (Wikipedia 1). Even these classes were made up of many distinct divisions of power and influence (Wikipedia 1). The elite, pilli, class consists of warriors, priests, leaders and nobles (The Aztecs 1). The commoners, macehualles, were usually merchants/traders of the state and farmers(The Aztecs 1). An example of the stratification in classes was the poorest of the commoners didn’t own land and just cultivated in return for part of the crops (The History of the Aztecs 1). Many of the lower class didn’t have power in the society although some were able to “climb the ladder” by entering the priesthood or being very successful on the battlefield (Bulliet 290). Also, some merchants could gain prestige, wealth, and power, but none of them were ever able to ever reach the nobility level (Bulliet 290). The lowest class in the Aztec society were the slaves. The slaves had no rights but were able to buy back their freedom if they had enough money. (The History of the Aztecs 1).
The Aztecs society affected all parts of their culture. The calpolli (social structure) were divided up into many groups. Each group had a specific “job” in their society, such as tax collection, land allocation or fighting in the military. The social classes were divided up on how they made a living, such as a merchant, thus affecting the economic system of the Aztec society (infrastructure). In turn these groups transformed how people were viewed amongst the Aztecs (super structure) and what they were allowed to do in society.
.
Bibliography
"Aztec Society -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_society>. "Aztec Society." Aztec History. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.aztec-history.net/aztec_society>. Bulliet, Richard W., Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsh, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples: a Global History. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Print. "The MMexica / Aztecs." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/AZTECS.HTM>.
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