Men and women
The Aztec society was dominated by men. The emperor was a man, the head of the house was a man and also, many other important positions in the Aztec society were men. However women had a lot of power as well. In fact, they may have had more power in earlier times, with men taking more power towards the end of the Aztec era. Men and women. Were they treated fairly? What were their responsibilities? Read more to find out.
Men
From the minute a man was born in the Aztec family, he was destined to a warrior. Symbolically, when a boy was born, the umbilical cord is given to a warrior that buries the cord in a battlefield. This sets a path for the Aztec man in the future, the ritual confirms that he will grown from a child to a man, and a warrior.
The Aztec man had many privileges. They went to different and better schools than the girls when they were younger, thus making the boys have a better education than the girls. However, the down point of this was that you were treated rougher than the other children at the commoner's schools.
Men generally worked outside of the home as a farmer, warrior or craftsman. The Aztec man may also have secondary wives, but only the primary one would have the privilege of a grand wedding ceremony. Future secondary wives' weddings won't be so grand and extravagant. When an Aztec man became a father, he takes up the responsibility of providing food for his family.
The most wanted Aztec profession for men was to become a warrior. You can gain respect as well as boost your social status. The Aztec man was born into a life laid out for him as they were considered as warriors in the making from an early age with many rituals to enforce this path on them.
However, this was not all they could become. The Aztecs believed in many other things and some will study history and art and many other skills as well. Religion was an option and even becoming a athlete was a choice if the Aztec man had the skills and agility. However, the Aztec man had choices but they were rather limited. War was a great part of his life and it was an important thing for an Aztec man to be a good warrior
The Aztec man had many privileges. They went to different and better schools than the girls when they were younger, thus making the boys have a better education than the girls. However, the down point of this was that you were treated rougher than the other children at the commoner's schools.
Men generally worked outside of the home as a farmer, warrior or craftsman. The Aztec man may also have secondary wives, but only the primary one would have the privilege of a grand wedding ceremony. Future secondary wives' weddings won't be so grand and extravagant. When an Aztec man became a father, he takes up the responsibility of providing food for his family.
The most wanted Aztec profession for men was to become a warrior. You can gain respect as well as boost your social status. The Aztec man was born into a life laid out for him as they were considered as warriors in the making from an early age with many rituals to enforce this path on them.
However, this was not all they could become. The Aztecs believed in many other things and some will study history and art and many other skills as well. Religion was an option and even becoming a athlete was a choice if the Aztec man had the skills and agility. However, the Aztec man had choices but they were rather limited. War was a great part of his life and it was an important thing for an Aztec man to be a good warrior
Women
Aztec women had various roles in her life and in Aztec society. Aztec men were war oriented but the Aztec women were not. If it weren't for the help of an Aztec women, it would be impossible for an Aztec man to live properly as the Aztec man wasn't trained in any domestic chores. For an Aztec women to be desirable, she relied on her cleanliness and how good she was with her domestic chores. She followed a strict code of behavior and had to be modest, reserved and simple. Simplicity meant no make-up. Make-up was a big no no as wearing make-up was actually for Aztec prostitutes.
Clothing and jewellery was also important for an Aztec woman as they loved bright coloured clothing and lots of shiny jewellery. Gold, feathers and precious stones made a women more desirable and the noble women wanted to be the most desireable, so there were certain restrictions to jewellery that were reserved only for noble women. The Aztec women wore their hair long and straight. Only priestesses cut their hair short or bald to symbolize their pureness.
The Aztecs valued their women. If an Aztec man failed to care for one of his wives properly or treated her unfairly, the family of the Aztec women's family can take her back and get a divorce. There was a story of a Aztec Prince named Axayact who had a little sister called Little Precious. She was married to the Lord of Mexico who mistreated her. When the Prince heard of the stories of the Lord mistreating his sister, he immediately attacked the city. This shows how much the Aztec valued their women.
At home, Aztec woman was the cook and the housekeeper. She would spend hours grinding maize to make flour and tortillas. She would also nurture crops especially maize, and take care of dogs and turkey which are their main sources of food.
Pregnant Aztec women were treated even more precious than before. If a man's status is promoted by going to war, a women would be promoted to a goddess if they die in childbirth.
Apart from their major role as head of the household in Aztec society, they had other options if they wished to have them. They could become venders or merchants in the market. They could sell food, clothing, materials or even decorative items. She could become a courtesan or prostitutes. Prostitutes weren't treated as outcasts or badly as they commonly danced with brave soldiers. If you were a noble Aztec women, you could even serve emperors as secretaries, scribes, bookkeepers or general administrators. They could become priestesses and serve in the temples if they wanted to.
However, the Aztec women's priority in life was to take care of their family, raise her children and learn to be useful in society without direct and active participation in the public. The Aztec women would love her family, provide clothing and perform lots of household duties. An Aztec women could easily have a career. She could become a priestess, run her own business or even become a midwife. Though they were a lot less powerful than men, they still had their way in many things. They had a lot of influence on how to run the family and how to raise her children. She could own property, ask for justice, ask for divorce and marry again.
Clothing and jewellery was also important for an Aztec woman as they loved bright coloured clothing and lots of shiny jewellery. Gold, feathers and precious stones made a women more desirable and the noble women wanted to be the most desireable, so there were certain restrictions to jewellery that were reserved only for noble women. The Aztec women wore their hair long and straight. Only priestesses cut their hair short or bald to symbolize their pureness.
The Aztecs valued their women. If an Aztec man failed to care for one of his wives properly or treated her unfairly, the family of the Aztec women's family can take her back and get a divorce. There was a story of a Aztec Prince named Axayact who had a little sister called Little Precious. She was married to the Lord of Mexico who mistreated her. When the Prince heard of the stories of the Lord mistreating his sister, he immediately attacked the city. This shows how much the Aztec valued their women.
At home, Aztec woman was the cook and the housekeeper. She would spend hours grinding maize to make flour and tortillas. She would also nurture crops especially maize, and take care of dogs and turkey which are their main sources of food.
Pregnant Aztec women were treated even more precious than before. If a man's status is promoted by going to war, a women would be promoted to a goddess if they die in childbirth.
Apart from their major role as head of the household in Aztec society, they had other options if they wished to have them. They could become venders or merchants in the market. They could sell food, clothing, materials or even decorative items. She could become a courtesan or prostitutes. Prostitutes weren't treated as outcasts or badly as they commonly danced with brave soldiers. If you were a noble Aztec women, you could even serve emperors as secretaries, scribes, bookkeepers or general administrators. They could become priestesses and serve in the temples if they wanted to.
However, the Aztec women's priority in life was to take care of their family, raise her children and learn to be useful in society without direct and active participation in the public. The Aztec women would love her family, provide clothing and perform lots of household duties. An Aztec women could easily have a career. She could become a priestess, run her own business or even become a midwife. Though they were a lot less powerful than men, they still had their way in many things. They had a lot of influence on how to run the family and how to raise her children. She could own property, ask for justice, ask for divorce and marry again.