Download The macuahuitl was a very important part of Aztec Warfare. However

The macuahuitl was a very important part of Aztec Warfare. However, it would
not have been as good of a weapon if it were not for the other Aztec technology to
compliment it. Along with the macuahuitl, the Aztecs used body armor, shields, helmets,
and war suits. Without the protection offered by these defensive weapons, the macuahuitl
would have been much less significant.
The military shields were made of a multiple materials and had several designs.
Some shields were made of animal hide and others were made from plaited palm leaves.
The Aztecs also used strong woven cane that was reinforced with two layers of cotton.
Wood was also a common material. The shields were uniquely decorated as well. Wood
shields would have carvings in them and others would have feather coverings. The
shields were also outlined in fur or feathers as well. An Aztec’s rank determined what
type and design of shield he would use. (Hassig 86)
The most common form of armor was quilted cotton armor or ichcahuipilli. It was
made of unspun cotton that the Aztecs tightly stitched between two layers of cloth and
then sewed to a leather border. The standard armor was thick enough to keep an arrow
and blow dart from penetrating and reaching its wearers skin. The thickness was usually
about two inches. There were three variations of this kind of armor. The first one was like
a jacket that could be tied up in the back. There was also a sleeveless version that could
be tied up in the front and a sleeveless pullover that was tight to the body and would
extend to the top of the thigh. (Hassig 88)
The Aztecs also wore what they called tlahuiztli or war suits. These suits covered
the entire body. They did have any padding but were worn over the quilted cotton armor.
Aztec warriors received these suits as tributes. Only the noble warriors were able to wear
them in battle. These were mainly worn as a status symbol because they did not offer
much extra protection. They gave some defense against projectile type weapons but not a
lot when in hand-to-hand combat. Another form of war suit was made of feathers sewn
into a type of fabric. These were much nicer and considered to be of even higher status.
They were mainly worn by the war leaders. Armbands and grieves were also worn in
some cases but again only by the noble. They tended to be made of wood, bark, or in
some special cases, very thin gold. These garments were also decorated in feathers.
Wristbands were also worn but they offered little protection but could also be used as a
status symbol. (Hassig 88-90)
Last and most importantly are the helmets. The helmets were made of wood or
bone. A lot of times they would be decorated with feathers like the other forms of armor.
The Aztecs also would use animal skulls as helmets. They would first take the skulls of
jaguars, wolves, or pumas and put them over a frame of wood or quilted cotton. The
person wearing it would be able to look out from the animal’s jaw. (Hassig 90)
Bibliography:
Hassig, Ross. Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control. Norman,
Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1988.
Ross, Kurt. 1978. Codex Mendoza: Aztec Manuscript, with commentary. Miller Graphics.
p. 41