Lesson 3: Daily Life in Tenochtitlán

Key Idea

Aztec society was organized into a clear social hierarchy, a system that ranked people by their importance and power. A person's social level determined their job, their home, and even the clothes they could wear.

At the top were the emperor, nobles, and high-ranking priests. This small, powerful group controlled the government and the empire's wealth. Below them was the vast majority of the population: the commoners. These farmers, artisans, and merchants did the work that fed the cities and supported the ruling class.

Key Idea

In Aztec society, family life was the foundation of the community. Marriages were often arranged by families to strengthen ties within their neighborhood group, or calpulli. This created a stable social structure where everyone had a place.

Within the family, men and women had clear gender roles. Men typically worked as farmers, artisans, or warriors. Women managed the household, cooked, wove valuable cloth, and cared for the children. Both roles were seen as essential to the family's survival and success.

Key Idea

The Aztec economy was built on farming. Farmers grew crops like maize, beans, and squash, which fed the large population of Tenochtitlán. This agriculture provided the foundation for daily life in the city.

People traded for goods they needed at huge, busy markets. Instead of using money, they used a system of bartering, exchanging items like food, cloth, and pottery directly for other goods.

Key Idea

Religion was at the center of Aztec life. The Aztecs believed their gods needed strength to keep the world in balance. They especially honored Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war, believing he fought darkness every night to ensure the sun would rise.

To give the gods strength, the Aztecs performed many rituals and made offerings. They believed the most powerful and sacred offering was human sacrifice. This practice was seen as a necessary duty to nourish the gods and protect their entire world from destruction.