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Why Did The Aztecs Exist

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The Aztecs are one of the best known yet one of the briefer civilizations in the Pre-Columbian era. The phrase “Aztec” refers to the Nahuatl-speaking occupants of the Valley of Mexico or the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs originated from a place known as Aztlan. Despite contrasting opinion of whether Aztlan exists or not, the Aztecs were said to have come from the north. Their journey to the Valley of Mexico was shared with various other tribes. Each group arrived at different times and the Mexica people, the Aztecs, were the last to arrive. As a result, they settled in the land others did not want. Conflict and tension forced the group to flee from two pieces of land to what would later be Tenochtitlan. The beginning of the Aztec …show more content…

There were those who ruled, nobles, and those who were ruled, commoners. The nobles made up approximately five percent of the Aztecs and the commoners were the bulk of the population. Despite the wide population gap between the two groups, the commoners were still obligated to serve the nobles. In the highest position of power was the tlatoani, ruler of a city-state. The high lords, tetecutin, who were in control over certain areas were next in line. Below the tetecutin, there were pipiltin, or nobles, who were the offspring of the tlatoani and the tetecutin that could hold positions in government. The commoners were separated into three tiers: macehualli, the free commoners, mayeque, commoners that worked on a noble’s land, and tlacotin, slaves. There were also pochteca, merchants, that were above the commoners.
How social classes divided the population, so did the education system. Commoners and nobles went to separate schools. The telpochcalli was the school for commoners. The students were taught dancing and singing for rituals, history and religion, but the main focus for the boys was military training. The calmecac was the school for the nobles and promising commoners. This school trained the students for roles in government, priesthood and the military. Students were taught the calendar, writing, reading and

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