The capital
of present-day Mexico, Mexico City, is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. The
Spanish destroyed the city after they conquered it in 1521, they built their
city on top of the Aztec ruins in the lake bed. A century later, they brought
in engineers to drain the lake surrounding the city. Today more than 20 million
people live in Mexico City. To provide water for this huge population, the
aquifer, that is, the underground water beneath the city, is being drained.
The Aztecs firmly believed that the group, which is their society, was much more important than the individuals within it. Whenever an Aztecs boy was born, his parents placed a tiny bow and shield in his hand.
This symbolized his commitment to protect the Aztec people. Montezuma, the leader of the Aztec people, was known as The Great Speaker.
One of his many responsibilities was to watch the night sky for signs that might tell of future events and interpret these for his people. His decisions as emperor were influenced by the movements of heavenly bodies.
The Aztecs had a social hierarchy and the two main classes were nobles and commoners.
A person’s position in society was generally determined by which class he or she was born into. However, people could work their way to the higher level through their own efforts.
The Aztecs social structure was unlike that of most first nations north of Rio Grande. With the exception of the west coast, first nations of North America were notably non-hierarchical. At the top of the Aztec hierarchy was the emperor, who had the tittle Huey Tlatoani which means “Great Speaker”.
Even though the Aztecs knew that their emperor was a human being, they treated him as if he were a god. Aztec society was organized into units called Calpolli. Members of a Calpolli lived in the same neighborhood and worshiped. Farmers did more than just grow the crops that fed Tenochtitlan’s population.
They were also skilled hunters and fishers. In the Aztec society, military service was mandatory, and being an able warrior was a source of great pride. Aztec society was focused on producing citizens who would contribute to the community. Lessons in good citizenship were a part of Aztec children’s education.
The Aztec people had their rights protected by a system of written laws. The legal system was a powerful tool for maintaining order in their society. It served to remind people of their responsibilities as citizens to be honest and obedient. Every citizen, even nobles, had to obey the laws. The Aztecs realized that slaves performed much necessary work. For this reason, they also have laws to protect their rights.
The Aztecs firmly believed that the group, which is their society, was much more important than the individuals within it. Whenever an Aztecs boy was born, his parents placed a tiny bow and shield in his hand.
This symbolized his commitment to protect the Aztec people. Montezuma, the leader of the Aztec people, was known as The Great Speaker.
One of his many responsibilities was to watch the night sky for signs that might tell of future events and interpret these for his people. His decisions as emperor were influenced by the movements of heavenly bodies.
The Aztecs had a social hierarchy and the two main classes were nobles and commoners.
A person’s position in society was generally determined by which class he or she was born into. However, people could work their way to the higher level through their own efforts.
The Aztecs social structure was unlike that of most first nations north of Rio Grande. With the exception of the west coast, first nations of North America were notably non-hierarchical. At the top of the Aztec hierarchy was the emperor, who had the tittle Huey Tlatoani which means “Great Speaker”.
Even though the Aztecs knew that their emperor was a human being, they treated him as if he were a god. Aztec society was organized into units called Calpolli. Members of a Calpolli lived in the same neighborhood and worshiped. Farmers did more than just grow the crops that fed Tenochtitlan’s population.
They were also skilled hunters and fishers. In the Aztec society, military service was mandatory, and being an able warrior was a source of great pride. Aztec society was focused on producing citizens who would contribute to the community. Lessons in good citizenship were a part of Aztec children’s education.
The Aztec people had their rights protected by a system of written laws. The legal system was a powerful tool for maintaining order in their society. It served to remind people of their responsibilities as citizens to be honest and obedient. Every citizen, even nobles, had to obey the laws. The Aztecs realized that slaves performed much necessary work. For this reason, they also have laws to protect their rights.