Aztec, self name Culhua-Mexica, Nahuatl-speaking people who in the 15th and early 16th centuries ruled a large empire in what is now central and southern Mexico. The Aztecs are so called from Aztlán (“White Land”), an allusion to their origins, probably in northern Mexico.
How did nobles play a role in Aztec government? Nobles belonged to families defended from the first Aztec king. They lived in large homes and ate the best food. Many were government officials.
The Aztec Empire flourished between c. 1345 and 1521 CE and, at its greatest extent, covered most of northern Mesoamerica.
Lacking food and ravaged by smallpox disease earlier introduced by one of the Spaniards, the Aztecs, now led by Cuauhtemoc, finally collapsed after 93 days of resistance on the fateful day of 13th of August, 1521 CE. Tenochtitlan was sacked and its monuments destroyed.
Emperors of the Triple Alliance (Aztec Empire)
| Tlatoani | Birth | Death |
|---|
| Ahuitzotl 10 Rabbit (15 April) 7 Rabbit (1486) – 10 Rabbit (1502) | Son of Tezozomoctli and Atotoztli II | 10 Rabbit (1502) |
| Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (Moctezuma II) 9 Deer (14 April) 10 Rabbit (1502) – 2 Flint (1520) | Son of Axayacatl | 2 Flint (1520) |
Aztec technology was so advanced that they even made drills, which were made of reed or bone. The Aztecs also made a variety of weapons. One weapon, the atlatl, made it easier to throw a spear. In addition, this weapon was used to aid in fishing.
Many countries around their time had upper-class schools or such, but only the Aztecs made it mandatory and available to all without discrimination. The Aztecs spent a lot of effort on working on medicinal studies that proved helpful to modern society, they were also the first people to remove fluid from the knee.
The Aztecs influenced todays life greatly. Aztec customs are still used in todays modern life. The Aztec were very independent, they all had jobs or went to school. The Aztec were the first society that required education for all its children, without regard of gender or social status.
The Aztec legal system was highly complex and was designed to maintain social order and respect for government institutions. Aztec laws were based on royal decrees and on customs that had been passed down from generation to generation.
The Aztecs believed in a complex and diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses. In fact, scholars have identified more than 200 deities within Aztec religion. The Aztec gods were divided into three groups, each supervising one aspect of the universe: weather, agriculture and warfare.
In general though, the Aztec were subjects of the more powerful Tepanec and Aztec leaders were only allowed to remain in power by paying tribute to the Tepanec. Also, during this time period, Aztec rulers increased the power of their society by forming strong alliances with other societies around Lake Texcoco.
However, there are a few inventions that people of Aztec descent can claim as their own.
- Mandatory Education. The Aztec empire was one of the few in the world to implement mandatory education.
- Chocolate. The Aztecs and Mayans take credit for introducing chocolate to the world.
- Medicine.
- The Calendar.
- Gum.
The Aztec economy was based on three things: agricultural goods, tribute, and trade. Aztec trade was crucially important to the empire; there could be no empire without it as many goods used by the Aztecs were not produced locally.
Farmers. Farmers, or macehualtin, were by far the largest section of Aztec society and they were divided into two further groups. First, and lower in status, were the field workers who did the donkey work of hoeing, weeding, planting, irrigating etc.
The nobles were firmly in control of society. They ran the government, owned the land, slaves, and servants.
Aztec people became slaves by selling themselves into slavery to pay for debts or as punishment for crimes. The slaves had certain rights. They were not to be mistreated by their owners, they could buy their freedom, and they could not be sold by their masters unless they agreed.
As such, Aztec men and women had very different roles. In general, men were expected to do more laborious work while women were expected to work in the household and care for the family. For example, women were tasked with caring for young children, preparing meals and repairing clothing.
The body parts of sacrificed slaves could be taken home and eaten with maize and salt as an extension of their sacrifice. It was a great honor to be given the opportunity to sacrifice a human in a public setting in the Aztec Empire.
In many indigenous communities, ancient beliefs and customs co-exist with those of Christianity. This blending of religions is known as 'syncretism'. Today the descendants of the Aztecs are referred to as the Nahua. Most Nahua worship in the local church and take part in church festivities.
The Aztecs had many gods but worshipped Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war, above all others. The Aztecs believed that they lived in the era of the fifth sun and that any day the world could end violently. In order to postpone their destruction and appease the gods, men performed human sacrifices.
The Aztecs did many things considering games and entertainment. The main thing Aztecs would do for entertainment was play various board and ball games. The Aztec people would dance, play music, tell stories and read poems. Music and dance was an important part of the Mesoamerican and South American culture.
Kukulkan. Kukulkan is the feathered serpent god of the Mayans. Kukulkan was worshipped by other Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztecs, where the god was known as Quetzalcoatl. A Mayan cult grew up around Kukulkan, the priests of which helped peaceful trade and communications among the Mayans.
Some animals such as the jaguar, eagle and snake had a paramount importance in the Aztec religious symbolism and were associated with the most powerful deities. Aztecs also used these animals as subjects for their tattoos which served as their personal animal totems.
