The Aztec Empire

• Noble families were the ruling class who owned land and controlled trade routes
• The nobility had to be able to trace their lineage back to an ancestor with divine right, which was called "noble blood" or "divine descent". This meant that they could claim direct descendance from the gods.
• Commoners made up most of the population and worked as farmers, artisans, merchants, craftspeople, soldiers, and laborers.
• Slaves were prisoners of war, debtors, criminals, or people captured during raids on neighboring villages.
• The common people (macehualtin) made up most of the population and worked as farmers, artisans, merchants, craftspeople, and laborers.
• Mexica society was organized into four classes based on occupation: priests, warriors, merchants, and peasants.
• Women held important roles in society but faced restrictions based on gender.
• Slaves were prisoners of war, criminals, debtors, or people captured by pirates.
• Priests played important roles in religious ceremonies and rituals, including sacrifices.
• Women played significant roles in agriculture, weaving textiles, cooking, childcare, and religious ceremonies.
• Slavery was not hereditary, so children born into slavery would eventually become free.
• Women played important roles in indigenous societies, including being responsible for household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
• Women held important roles in society but did not have political power.
• Marriage was arranged by parents and often involved exchanging gifts between families.
• They also participated in religious ceremonies, weaving textiles, and working in agriculture alongside men.
• Priests served as intermediaries between humans and the gods, performing rituals and sacrifices.
• Aztecs believed in a complex pantheon of deities who controlled various aspects of life.
• Warriors protected the city-state and fought in battles against other tribes.
• In some cases, women held positions of power within their communities, particularly in matrilineal societies where inheritance passed through the mother's side of the family.
• Warriors were responsible for protecting their communities from external threats and expanding territory through conquest.
• Slavery existed in Mesoamerican societies, with slaves being used primarily for agricultural work.
• The Mexica believed that the sun god Huitzilopochtli demanded human sacrifice to ensure the continuation of life.
• Warriors had to prove their bravery through battle and could rise to high ranks within the military hierarchy.
• Human sacrifice played a significant role in religious ceremonies and was seen as necessary to maintain balance between humans and the gods.
• Indigenous women also participated in agricultural activities like planting crops and harvesting food.
• Human sacrifice involved capturing slaves from neighboring cities and performing ritualistic killings during festivals.
• Merchants traded goods within the empire and beyond.
• Merchants traded goods within Mesoamerica and with other civilizations such as the Maya and Toltecs.
• Indigenous civilizations had complex social structures that included nobility, commoners, and slaves.
• Peasants farmed crops like maize, beans, squash, chili peppers, avocados, tomatoes, cacao, and tobacco.
• Warfare was an integral part of Mesoamerican culture, with battles fought between city-states over resources such as food, water, and land.
• Divorce was allowed under certain circumstances, such as infidelity or failure to produce an heir.
• Merchants traded goods such as food, clothing, pottery, and obsidian blades throughout Mesoamerica.
• In some cases, women even served as warriors during times of conflict.
• Religion was closely tied to politics and social organization, with rulers often serving as intermediaries between the gods and the people.
• Nobles were born into their position through heredity and enjoyed privileges such as land ownership, political power, and access to education.
• Peasants farmed maize, beans, chili peppers, avocados, tomatoes, and other crops using advanced agricultural techniques like chinampas.
• The priests were highly respected members of society and had significant influence over people's lives.
• The Aztecs had a caste system that determined one's social status based on birth.
• The most important god was Huitzilopochtli, associated with warfare and the sun.