AZTEC SOCIETY
RULEREach city-state of the Aztec society had a ruler called a tlatoani which
meant ‘great speaker’.
He promoted fertility and was considered to be a great warrior prince. He was essentially the chief priest, conducting certain sacrificial rites himself. It was believed the power of the gods burned in him and was refreshed from time to time in ritual sacrifices. He lived in an extravagant palace in the heart of Tenochtitlan, surrounded by officials, servants and wives. |
NOBLES
All the most important and senior
positions in society were filled by the nobility.
They served as:
Advisers to the ruler
Ambassadors
Governors of allied provinces
Judges
Collectors of tax
Leading members of the military
Bureaucrats
Some joined the priesthood where they became educated in astronomy, mathematics
and writing
They served as:
Advisers to the ruler
Ambassadors
Governors of allied provinces
Judges
Collectors of tax
Leading members of the military
Bureaucrats
Some joined the priesthood where they became educated in astronomy, mathematics
and writing
COMMONERS
There
was also commoners in the Aztec society, their living came from:
Farming Fishing Hunting Soldiering Artisan work Commoners could rise to positions of authority within the capultin (tribal clans) to which they belonged. One was elected calpullec, who oversaw economic matters, such as grants of land, within the clan; another was teochcautin, the keeper of laws. Underneath the commoners was a class of labourers and then the slaves. |
Activity
Read through the information on the sheet and fill in the social pyramid.