AZTEC DAILY LIFE
The Aztec Empire was a civilization in central Mexico that thrived in the time before the arrival of European explorers during the Age of Exploration. Throughout its history as a civilization the Aztec Empire expanded across much of central Mexico and other surrounding areas, to become the most dominant and powerful people in the region. Tenochtitlan, the main Aztec city (or altepetl), was the center of this vast empire.
Daily life for people living in the Aztec Empire varied depending on the social class that they belong to. For instance, the upper class of people were referred to as pipiltin. They generally lived in larger homes, were able to afford luxury items and slaves and held more power in the government, religion and military. While the middle class people referred to as macehualtin, had much more average lives. They worked as farmers, merchants, artisans and warriors. They lived in more moderate homes and could not afford as elaborate clothes or art. Regardless, there are several key aspects to consider about the daily life of most Aztec people, such as: clothing, education, entertainment, food, homes, religion and work.
AZTEC CLOTHING AND DRESS
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An important part of the Aztec daily life was the clothing that the people made and wore. First, Aztec society was divided between distinct classes, and the different classes wore different types of clothing. For example, the high priests, nobility and royalty would wear very ornate clothing while the lower classes would not. Second, the basic item in Aztec clothing for men was the ‘maxtlatl’, which was a type of loincloth. Men would usually wear the maxtlatl with another garment that resembled a cloak called a ‘tilmahtli’. The timahtli were stylized differently to distinguish between the different classes in Aztec society. Third, Aztec women were known to wear a type of blouse called a ‘huīpīlli’ along with a long skirt called ‘cuēitl’. For footwear, the Aztec nobility wore a sandal which they called ‘cactli’. Commoners in Aztec society were not allowed to wear these as they were viewed as a sign of status. As well, all Aztec people were required to be barefoot when they entered a temple or when they were in the presence of the emperor (huey tlatoani).
Jewelry and accessories were also popular in Aztec society. For instance, both men and women were known to wear necklaces and bracelets made of gold and different types of stones. In general, jewelry was a status symbol for the Aztec, with the upper classes wearing more and the lower classes wearing less. Also prominent in Aztec jewelry and dress were feathers and shells. In fact, the blue-green feathers from the quetzal bird were highly prized and worn exclusively on the headdresses of the Aztec royalty. Click here to read more about Aztec clothing.
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The Texcoco ruler (Nezahualpilli) wearing xiuhtilmatli (blue cape), maxtlatl (loincloth), and cactli (sandals). From the Codex Ixtlilxochitl.
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AZTEC EDUCATION
Education was an important part of daily life for the young people of the Aztec Empire. All children attended schools where they were taught the traditions and history of their people. In fact, education was free for all people regardless of their social class. At first, Aztec children were taught by their parents, until they were in their teens when they attended schools.
The education of Aztec boys and girls from the Mendoza Codex.
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As they grew up, Aztec boys received an education that ultimately prepared them for battle and service in the Aztec military. For instance, boys between the ages of ten and twenty were required to attend school. Boys of the lower classes attended schools called Telpochcalli. While the boys from the nobility attended schools called Calmecac. The Telpochcalli schools focused on preparing the boys for warfare and teaching the boys how to use different weapons, while the Calmecac schools prepared the noble boys to be leaders in the military, priesthood and government. Aztec religion was also a central component of these schools, as children were taught the different gods and traditions related to each. For instance, they were instructed to recite the correct songs and poems related to each festival and practiced different dances for different religious ceremonies. Children of the pipiltin (nobility) were also instructed in how to play the famous ballgame that was common throughout much of Mesoamerica. At the age of fifteen, the boys began training with weaponry and would often accompany more experienced warriors into battle, but they did not participate in the fighting. As well, it was during this time that the boys would usually seek the guidance from an experienced warrior to act as a mentor. Finally, when the boys were approximately twenty years old they joined the military ranks and became an Aztec warrior.
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Girls also attended school in the Aztec Empire but not the same ones as boys. Instead of focusing on warfare and weapons, girls were instructed in housekeeping. With that said, girls would also be taught the religious traditions and history of the Aztec Empire. For, instance they were instructed to learn the songs and poems of the different religious festivals and ceremonies and learned to dance.
These schools were important for developing and fostering the Aztec culture among its people.
These schools were important for developing and fostering the Aztec culture among its people.
AZTEC ENTERTAINMENT (MESOAMERICAN BALLGAME)
Despite being concerned with regular military expansion throughout central Mexico, the Aztec people were also delighted to participate in different games and be entertained. One of the most important games in Aztec history was the ballgame referred to as ōllamalitzli. The term ‘ōllamalitzli’ translates to ‘rubber to play ball’. In fact, the ballgame was common throughout much of Mesoamerica and was played by many different groups of people, including: Maya, Teotihuacan, and the Aztec. It is believed that the game originated sometimes around 1400 BCE in modern-day Mexico, meaning it had a long history in the region.
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Historians do not know the exact rules of the game, but there are some basic assumptions of how it was played. For example, two teams would face off against each out in a ‘ball court’ which was essentially a large rectangular space. Furthermore, in the Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital), the largest ball court was called ‘teotlachco’ meaning ‘holy ball court’. The ball court was, of course, the location of the game but it also served purposes for other religious festivals and ceremonies.
The game was played with a rubber ball that was approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) in weight. It is believed that the point of the game was for the players to hit the ball back and forth to each other by using their hips, forearms or thighs. The purpose was to keep the ball in play and keep the game going.
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Mural from Teotihuacan.
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The ballgame had important religious and cultural significance for the Aztec people. For instance, it was a major event in Aztec society that brought many people together in a common space. As well, historians believe that the Aztec people may have viewed the ballgame as a metaphor for the conflict between the sun and the moon. As such, it is believed that the Aztec associated the game closely with the god Huitzilopochtli. For the Aztec he was the representation of the sun. He was also considered to be the national god of the ‘Mexica’ which is the term the Aztec used to refer to themselves. As well, he was the patron god of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. In fact, there was a temple built in his and Tlaloc’s honor in the center of the city called Templo Mayor, which some refer to as the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. In Aztec tradition Huitzilopochtli was viewed as the sun, his sister the moon, and his brothers the stars. The constant movement of the sun, moon and stars was viewed by the Aztecs as an ongoing battle between Huitzilopochtli and his siblings. Thus, the Aztec believed that they needed to provide tribute to Huitzilopochtli in order to ensure the sun’s survival and ability to ‘fight’ each day.
Beyond its religious connections, the game was form of entertainment for the Aztec people. This was especially true of the pipiltin (nobility), who were taught to play the game as children in the Calmecac schools.
AZTEC FOOD AND FARMING
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The Aztec had a diverse range of food items that made up their diet. With that said, because the events of the Columbian Exchange had not yet occurred, the Aztec where limited to locally grown foods. As such, since most domesticated animals originate from Eurasia, the Aztec diet was primarily based upon vegetables and fruits. For instance, likely the most common food item of the Aztec Empire was maize (corn). Maize is a cereal grain that was likely first grown by humans over 10,000 years ago in modern-day Mexico. As such, by the time of the Aztec Empire, maize had a long history of use in farming practices in Mexico. The Aztec would prepare the maize in several different ways, including grounding it down into a flour that could then be used to create a tortilla. Maize remains an important crop today and has spread across the world and is used in many different types of foods.
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Aztec Farmers
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Besides maize, the Aztec also had other foods that were also important, such as beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, chilies, and chocolate. In general, the vegetables listed provided the Aztec people with much of their nutritional needs. However, the Aztec were also known to eat some animals, including: ducks, turkeys, dogs, fish, and other smaller animals. Click here to read more about Aztec food and farming.
AZTEC RELIGION
An important aspect of the Aztec Empire and history was their religious beliefs and practices. In general, the Aztecs shared many of their main religious beliefs and practices with other societies in the region. For example, some gods and religious practices were common throughout different Mesoamerican societies, including: Toltec and Teotihuacan. As such, when learning about Aztec religion it’s important to understand that much of it also applies to other civilizations throughout the history of the region.
The concept of ‘god’ in Aztec society is referred to as ‘Teotl’ in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec. The Aztecs, like other Mesoamerican societies, had a wide pantheon of gods. As such they were a polytheistic society, which means they had many gods and each god represented different important parts of the world for Aztec people.
Huitzilopochtli
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As stated above, the gods in the Aztec religion represented different aspects of life and the world for the Aztec people. The aspects that the gods represented included: culture of Aztec society and Mesoamerica, nature and the natural world, creation stories, fertility, food, death and the underworld, trade and excess or entertainment. Each god had different attributes and personality traits and were usually represented in distinct ways by the Aztec. Some could take human or animal form and were celebrated in festivals and rituals. There were many gods in the Aztec religion but some of the most prominent included: Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Mictlāntēcutli, and Tlaloc. Click here to read more about Aztec religion.
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AZTEC WORK
There were several different forms of work in the Aztec Empire. 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. Some women worked as artisans or craftspeople and sold their creations in the many different markets that were so important to the Aztec economy.
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For their part, men worked in several different occupations, including: farmer, artisan, craftsman, merchant, warrior, priest or government official. For instance, commoners or middle class citizens in the Aztec Empire (who were referred to as macehualtin) mostly worked as farmers growing crops such as maize (corn), beans and squash. Some, who were skilled artists and creators, worked as artisans and sold their goods at market. The Aztec referred to skilled artisans as tolteca after the earlier Toltec civilization that the Aztec admired. The commoners were also required to work, at different times, to build and maintain the temples and public buildings in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan.
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Aztec Traders (Pochteca)
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Some macehualtin worked as merchants in the markets by selling and trading different types of goods. Furthermore, some men worked as long distance traders, which were referred to as pochteca. These men carried goods from vast distance across the Aztec Empire to different markets. As well, all Aztec men were expected to serve time in the Aztec military as a warrior. For instance, the boys trained from a very young age to use different types of Aztec weapons and the rules and conduct of battle. Men of the noble class (pipiltin) were trained from a very young age to serve as high priests or in top government positions. These people oversaw the many Aztec ceremonies and festivals, and carried out the functions of the Aztec government.
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