Life of the Aztecs: A Study Guide

Introduction

• Aztec civilization drew from Olmec and Mayan traditions.
• Achieved power and influence across Mexico and Central America in the 14th to 16th centuries.
• Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) was their key city-state.
• Sacrifices were a part of everyday life.

Religion and Ritual

• Human sacrifices were common, tied to religious and social conventions.
• Sacrifices included slaves and prisoners of war, especially during periods of strife.
• Flower Wars were waged to capture sacrificial victims.

Society and Culture

• Trade:
  • Essential to the empire.
  • Long-distance merchants, known as Paca, viewed with skepticism.
  • Regional markets were government-managed.
• Diet:
  • Maize was the staple crop.
  • Diet included beans, squash, tomatoes, insects, and for elites, more meat and fish.
• Marriage:
  • Marriage was ceremonial; polygamy was common among wealthier men.
  • Strict legal conventions; adultery was a capital offense.
• Education:
  • Boys and girls received education based on gender roles and social status.
  • Boys could attend military schools; girls learned domestic skills.

Agriculture and Technology

• Chinampa System:
  • Used to fertilize and increase yield.
  • Floating gardens were created using mud from swamps.
• Clothing:
  • Clothing indicated social status.
  • Higher classes adorned with jewelry, furs, and feathers.

Leisure and Entertainment

• Sang, danced, gambled; played board and dice games.
• Mesoamerican ballgame was a religious event.
  • Losers were often sacrificed.

Calendars

• Two calendars: Solar (365 days) and Ritual (260 days).
• Guided religious rituals and daily life.
• Every 52 years, both calendars aligned, leading to major ceremonies.

The Aztecs were a complex society with rich traditions, intricate social structures, and a significant influence on the regions they inhabited. Their practices, particularly sacrifices, might seem gruesome today, but they were integral to their way of life.