What were the 4 main social classes in Aztec society?
The Aztecs followed a strict social hierarchy in which individuals were identified as nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, or slaves. The noble class consisted of government and military leaders, high level priests, and lords (tecuhtli).
Which group of ancient people built the city of Tenochtitlan?
The Aztec built their capital city, Tenochtitlan, on Lake Texcoco. Built on two islands, the area was extended using chinampas—small, artificial islands created above the waterline that were later consolidated. Tenochtitlan eventually reached an area of more than 13 square kilometers (five square miles).
What society did Native Americans live in Tenochtitlan?
The Aztecs were the Native American people who dominated northern Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. A nomadic culture, the Aztecs eventually settled on several small islands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325, they founded the town of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City.
What was the largest class in Aztec society?
Farmers
Farmers. Farmers, or macehualtin, were by far the largest section of Aztec society and they were divided into two further groups.
What is the middle class in the Aztec society?
MACEHUALTIN (MIDDLE CLASS) The middle class in Aztec society were referred to as macehualtin and they made up the largest group of people in Aztec society. These people were considered to be among the commoner class and generally were made up of rural farmers. As such, macehualtin were organized in the calpulli system.
Who was at the top of the Aztecs social class structure?
At the top of the class structure were the ruler and his family. Next came a noble class of government officials, priests, and high-ranking warriors. The third and largest class was made up of commoners, citizens who were not of noble rank.
How did other groups already living in the Valley of Mexico treat the Aztecs?
Other groups generally either forced the Aztecs to move away or hired them as mercenaries (paid soldiers). The Aztecs were not very powerful during this period and thus may have decided to eliminate it from their later “official” histories.
Who was at the top of Aztec society?
Aztec society was divided into five main social classes. At the top of the class structure were the ruler and his family. Next came a noble class of government officials, priests, and high-ranking warriors. The third and largest class was made up of commoners, citizens who were not of noble rank.
What does each social class mean?
Most sociologists define social class as a grouping based on similar social factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation. These factors affect how much power and prestige a person has.
What was the largest social class in Aztec society?
What was the smallest class in Aztec society?
The lowest social class in Aztec society were the tlacotin. These people were the slaves that worked throughout the Aztec Empire. For the Aztecs, slavery was not something that you could be born into. Rather, people became slaves of their own choosing, as a punishment for a crime, or because they were taken captive.
Is Aztec a dead language?
It is truly said that the only language that does not change is a dead language. Náhuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs and their neighbours, is not a dead language. It is spoken by a million or so people in Mexico today, and there is at least as much Classical Náhuatl committed to writing as Classical Greek.
What two groups lived in the Valley of Mexico before Aztecs?
The Teotihuancan and Toltecs lived in the valley of Mexico before the Aztecs. They influenced the Aztecs by adopting their gods and way of life; such as pilgrimages.
