Aztec Empire Social Hierarchy
By: Jordan Montagano 3rd Hour
In the ancient Aztec Empire, there was a very neat and interesting social hierarchy. There were four major social classes and the highest class was the Noble class (pipilfin). The most important and highest person in the Noble class was the emperor. The emperor was chosen by a group of noble members, who selected the emperor out of an eligible royal family. The role the emperor was to pray to the gods and take over land. If the job was not done well, then a new emperor was selected from the royal family. Other people in the Noble class were: Government and military leaders, judges and high ranking priests. These people generally wore fancy cloths and jewelry to show their status. Below the noble class were the commoners (macehualtin). They consisted of farmers, low ranking priests, artisans and merchants (richest commoners) and lived in neighborhood wards called calpulli. The wards had one single noble man and a console of elder commoners. The commoners generally grew the food for nobles or created and sold objects. Below them were the serfs (just barely below most commoners). Serfs were not slaves, but they did work on land owned by nobles and were not very wealthy. Below the serfs were the slaves, slavery was a large role in Aztec society. Slaves were the lowest social class and worked and did the deeds of nobles. Slaves consisted of POW’s and criminals. If someone was in debt, then they also could sell themselves or their family into slavery. Slaves were housed and fed by their owners, unlike most slavery; Aztec slaves consisted mainly of Aztecs and not other races.
In Aztec society, people could move in-between social classes, and movement was both hereditary and merit based. If you were a soldier, you could gain respect and rank up in military and social class if you preformed brave duties in battles, and captured many people. If you were a priest, you could move up in social class by gaining recognition over time. Merchants also had their own class and self governing system; the best merchants were at the top. Slavery was not hereditary, and no person was born into slavery. Slaves could also gain their freedom through hard work, marrying their owner or if their owner died. Some movement was hereditary too; noble children generally had better luck getting into a higher class than commoner children. Also how the Emperor was chosen is hereditary because only a member of the royal family could become Emperor. People also gained popularity for good deeds that they did. In Aztec society the people had some basic rights. All children could attend some type of school to get a basic education and anyone could work some type of job. Any man or women could own property; also anyone could get married and have children (even slaves). Citizens also had freedom and weren’t owned, and anyone could ask for justice. The man was also considered the leader of the household but the wife was still a citizen after marriage. These women could make contracts, file a suit in the legal system and even engage in business. The men generally worked their whole lives at jobs or in the army and contributed to the family. Also any wife or husband could file for divorce.
By: Jordan Montagano 3rd Hour
In the ancient Aztec Empire, there was a very neat and interesting social hierarchy. There were four major social classes and the highest class was the Noble class (pipilfin). The most important and highest person in the Noble class was the emperor. The emperor was chosen by a group of noble members, who selected the emperor out of an eligible royal family. The role the emperor was to pray to the gods and take over land. If the job was not done well, then a new emperor was selected from the royal family. Other people in the Noble class were: Government and military leaders, judges and high ranking priests. These people generally wore fancy cloths and jewelry to show their status. Below the noble class were the commoners (macehualtin). They consisted of farmers, low ranking priests, artisans and merchants (richest commoners) and lived in neighborhood wards called calpulli. The wards had one single noble man and a console of elder commoners. The commoners generally grew the food for nobles or created and sold objects. Below them were the serfs (just barely below most commoners). Serfs were not slaves, but they did work on land owned by nobles and were not very wealthy. Below the serfs were the slaves, slavery was a large role in Aztec society. Slaves were the lowest social class and worked and did the deeds of nobles. Slaves consisted of POW’s and criminals. If someone was in debt, then they also could sell themselves or their family into slavery. Slaves were housed and fed by their owners, unlike most slavery; Aztec slaves consisted mainly of Aztecs and not other races.
In Aztec society, people could move in-between social classes, and movement was both hereditary and merit based. If you were a soldier, you could gain respect and rank up in military and social class if you preformed brave duties in battles, and captured many people. If you were a priest, you could move up in social class by gaining recognition over time. Merchants also had their own class and self governing system; the best merchants were at the top. Slavery was not hereditary, and no person was born into slavery. Slaves could also gain their freedom through hard work, marrying their owner or if their owner died. Some movement was hereditary too; noble children generally had better luck getting into a higher class than commoner children. Also how the Emperor was chosen is hereditary because only a member of the royal family could become Emperor. People also gained popularity for good deeds that they did. In Aztec society the people had some basic rights. All children could attend some type of school to get a basic education and anyone could work some type of job. Any man or women could own property; also anyone could get married and have children (even slaves). Citizens also had freedom and weren’t owned, and anyone could ask for justice. The man was also considered the leader of the household but the wife was still a citizen after marriage. These women could make contracts, file a suit in the legal system and even engage in business. The men generally worked their whole lives at jobs or in the army and contributed to the family. Also any wife or husband could file for divorce.