Aztec Daily Life Lesson

Aztec Daily Life - Colorado 6th grade

​Introduction

​What was daily life like for Aztecs in Tenochtitlän?

​The Aztecs built their large empire in central Mexico and governed it from Tenochtitlån, their capital city. Built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlån was an impressive city that was home to almost 200,000 people.

Suppose you are an Aztec child living outside Tenochtitlån in the 1400s C.E. One morning your father, a chili pepper farmer, takes you to the Great Market at Tenochtitlån. You pass by a stand with glimmering gold and silver for trade and another with fresh produce. Your father finds the vegetable section, spreads out a mat to display peppers for trade, and then begins to shout out prices. He gladly trades with a noblewoman, exchanging peppers for precious cacao beans. Later he trades his remaining peppers for a handmade clay cooking pot for your mother.​

​After all the peppers are gone, your father takes you on a walk around the city. You see the Great Temple where priests perform sacrifices, and the ball court where nobles play a game called tlachtli. You gaze in wonder at the beautiful houses of the noble families and the splendid palace of the Aztec ruler. You might see carvings and statues of Aztec gods that you recognize.

When you return home, you eat a simple mush made of maize before going to sleep. This imaginary trip to Tenochtitlån shows aspects of daily life experienced by many Aztecs in the 1400s. In this lesson, you will learn more about how the people of Tenochtitlån lived. You will explore Aztec class structure, marriage, family life, food, markets, religious practices, and recreation.

This imaginary trip to Tenochtitlån shows aspects of daily life experienced by many Aztecs in the 1400s. In this lesson, you will learn more about how the people of Tenochtitlån lived. You will explore Aztec class structure, marriage, family life, food, markets, religious practices, and recreation.

Open schoology and click on the "Aztec Daily Life Mural." What do you see?

​Aztec Daily Life - Section 1

Five main social classes.

• Ruler and his family

• Noble class of government officials, priests, and high-ranking warriors.

• Commoners, citizens who were not of noble rank.

• Peasants, who were neither slaves nor citizens.

• slaves

​Ruler

​ Emperor maintained the empire and decided when to wage war.

The position of ruler was not hereditary as it was in many other societies. When an emperor died, his son did not automatically become ruler. Instead, a group of advisers chose the new ruler from the emperor's family. Each new ruler was expected to acquire new wealth of his own, which was an important motive for constant warfare.

Multiple Choice

Who chose the next ruler in Aztec society?

• The Nobles

• Aztec

• A group of advisors

• The muffin man