Download Slavery in the Aztec Empire

Social Studies 8
Unit 8: For the Good of the People
Aztec Signs of Status
What are some of the ways
that the Aztecs could
display their social status?
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Clothing
Jewelry
Size and location of house
Occupation
Gold
Quetzal Feathers
However, the Aztecs also had rules about
displaying their wealth and status, for
example…
• Only nobles were allowed to
wear cotton
• Only nobles could build a two
storey house
Slavery in the Aztec Empire
While slavery is never a good thing, conditions were better in the Aztec Empire
than they were in many other cultures for several reasons. For example…
• Slaves had the chance to work their way out of slavery and become free citizens.
• Furthermore, Aztecs were not born into slavery. The children of Aztec slaves were born free, and slaves could
even own their own slaves!
• The Aztecs also recognized that slaves performed incredibly important tasks and appreciated how much slaves
contributed to society. In fact, they were so appreciative of slaves that they created laws to protect slave rights ( ←
what an oxymoron!).
Two such laws were:
• The right to be treated fairly by their slave owner: if a noble beat their slave to death, there were serious
consequences - they could be executed!
• A slave sold in the marketplace could immediately win their freedom if they could escape and run to the
emperor’s palace without being caught - approx. one and a half kilometres.
• Lastly, slavery in the Aztec empire was comparable to a prison sentence (with an eventual release date), whereas
in other cultures, slavery was an inescapable social class.
•Why do you think a prison sentence could be considered better than being born into a slave class?
• In many cultures, people lived and died within the same social class. The elite in society worked hard to
preserve their place at the top of the hierarchy, which meant keeping commoners in their place. The
Aztecs on the other hand were more concerned with bettering their society. They didn’t even have
physical prisons; for major crimes, citizens were executed, and for minor crimes, citizens were sentenced
to slavery. It was then up to them to earn the privilege of returning to society.
Aztec Laws and
Education
The Aztecs had strict laws and values that governed their
society, most of which, applied to all members of society.
For example, every citizen had the right and the obligation to be
educated. However, ONLY the nobility could be educated to
become priests and government officials.
In school, every child was taught the virtues of the ideal Aztec
citizen. Those virtues were:
All schooling was free in the Aztec Empire, and every child went to
school.
There were two types of schools, the calmecac (call–MEH–cahk)for
nobles, and the telpochcalli(tell–poach–CALL–lee) for commoners.
•WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO
SCHOOLS??
The Aztecs, the Spanish … and Canadians?
When the Spanish arrived on the coast of Mexico, they were surprised to find that several Aztec societies were eager
to help the Spanish in their conquest of the Aztec Empire.
•Why do you think that is?
• Firstly, many Aztec societies were conquered and acquired through war.
• Conquered groups were also forced to pay tribute to the Aztecs. They would have to give up their prized
possessions, such as fabric, food, spices, jewellery, but the most valuable tributes the Aztecs could collect
were:
• exotic bird feathers - they were worth more than gold!
As a result, many groups became bitter towards the Aztecs instead of loyal.
While Canadians would disagree with many of the Aztec’s societal values, some Canadian values are surprisingly
similar to the Aztec’s.
• For example, the most important thing an Aztec citizen could do was contribute to society in some way. In
fact, the main goal of Aztec education was to teach citizenship duties to the Aztec youth and to create loyal
citizens to strengthen the state. Canadians also value loyal, hard working citizens who use their talents to
make Canada a better place!
• Can you think of any specific ways that the Aztecs and Canadians contribute to society?
• What are some of the Aztec societal values that completely contrast Canadian values?
The Aztec Social
Hierarchy
• Being at the top of the hierarchy, Aztec emperors enjoyed certain
privileges, such as:
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Palaces
Spectacular gardens
Private zoos
Servants
And more...
• With privilege came responsibility. Aztec emperors had two
main responsibilities, they were:
– Commander of the Army
– Head of State
• Aztec Neighbourhoods: Calpollis.
– The Aztecs lived with their family clans and sometimes people who
shared their professions.
– These neighbourhoods, or groups, were called calpollis. Some of the
major calpollis were:
• Merchants: richest calpollis, brought back valuable resources, often worked
as spies and advisors during times of war.
• Artisans: most talented calpollis, always busy keeping up with the demand
for finer things. Mask makers, goldsmiths, and feather workers were among
the most respected artisans.
• Farmers: skilled hunters and fishers. They sold much of what they caught in
the market to add to the family income. They gave up a share of their
produce in taxes to help the state survive, and in some cases, donated their
time and physical labour to the state.
MATCHING
H. Calpolli
2. Dealing with lawbreakers by punishing them
J. Telpochcalli
B. Retributive Justice
D. Omen
A. Restorative Justice
C. Glyphs
F. Chinampas
3. Symbols and pictures used in writing
E. Conscription
1. Dealing with a law breaker by requiring the offender to
repair the harm done
Review Slide
• School for the nobles were called:
• Calmecac.
• List at least two ways the Aztecs could displa their social status.
• Clothing, jewelry, size and location of house, occupation, gold,
quetzal feathers.
• The comet that foretold the death and destruction of the Aztec
empire was called:
• The Star Serpent
• Dealing with lawbreakers by punishing them is called:
• Retributive justice.
• Status Laws: Only nobles could _______ and ________.
• Wear cotton, build a two storey house.
• School for the commoners were called:
• Telpochcalli.
• Conscription is:
• Mandatory military service.
• An innovative man made island used for growing crops is a :
• Chinampa
• List the 5 virtues of the ideal Aztec citizen (**hint: MOCCS)
• Modesty, Obedience, Courage, Clean-living, Self Sacrifice
• A sign of something that will happen is called:
• An omen.
• _________________ were worth more that gold in the Aztec
Empire.
• Quetzal feathers/Exotic bird feathers.
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A unit of organization for Aztec society was called a:
Calpolli
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Dealing with a law breaker by requiring the offender to repair harm done is called:
Restorative justice.
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An Aztec emperor had two main responsibilities/roles. They were:
Commander of the Army and Head of State.
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Some of the privileges that emperors enjoyed were:
Palaces, gardens, zoos, and servants.
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There are 5 sections in the Aztec Social Hierarchy. Use the following acronym to
list all members of the hierarchy, from most important to least important:
E. NP. MAS. FFW. S:
Emperor; Nobility and Priests; Merchants, Artisans and Soldiers; Farmers, Fishers,
and Women; Slaves.
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Symbols and pictures used in writing are called:
Glyphs.
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Like the Aztecs, Canadians value:
Loyal, hard working citizens, who better society.
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Some would say that slaves had it better in the Aztec society than in other cultures
for many reasons, but most importantly, because:
In the Aztec Empire, slaves could work their way out of slavery.
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ONLY the nobility could be educated to become:
Priests and government officials.
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List some of the characteristics of the Telpochcalli:
School for commoners, lessons often taught through song, students taught a trade
and expected to contribute physical labor.
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List some of the characteristics of the Calmecac:
School for nobles, students taught with codices, emphasis on religious education,
many students became priests and government officials.
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True or False: the surrounding Aztec societies were eager to help the Aztecs
conquer the Spanish.
False: they were happy to help the Spanish.
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are two of the reasons the surrounding Aztec societies were eager to help the
• The main goal of Aztec education was to teach ____ and to_____. • What
Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire?
• citizenship duties to the Aztec youth; create loyal citizens to
• Most were conquered by the Aztecs through war and required to pay tribute.
strengthen the state.