Ancient Aztecs: DAILY LIFE

CLASSES
There were four main classes that separated Aztec society. The piplitin,
or nobles were the highest class. Priests, lords, scribes, government, and
military leaders were nobles. Farmers, traders, warriors, and craftsmen
were the macehualtin, or commoners. Mayeque, or serfs, who worked
and lived on nobles’ land were below commoners. The lowest class in
Aztec society were those who were tlacotin, or the enslaved. They
became slaves for many reasons, such as punishment for a crime, unpaid
debts, or were captured in war.
FAMILIES
Families were important to the Aztecs. Weddings were arranged by
people known as matchmakers. Families then approved them. Men were
usually married around age 20, while women were around 14 or 15 years old. The bride’s
family served a feast, often for many days, to honor their daughter’s marriage. The
matchmaker carried the bride on his or her back to deliver her to her new home. The
bride and groom tied their cloaks together to symbolize their marriage. Women ran their
homes doing chores like cooking food and weaving clothing. Men usually worked outside the
home as farmers, warriors, or craftsmen. Children went to school or helped around the
house. Women were able to divorce their husbands. They received half their belongings if
they did so. Older family members were well respected and cared for by the Aztecs.
FASHION
The Aztecs lived in a warm climate, so men often wore loincloths. A loincloth is a single
piece of cloth that is wrapped around the hips. Men also wore long capes. Aztec women
wore long skirts and tops. Aztecs who did not have a lot of money usually wove their
own cloth and made their own clothes. There were laws that stated who could wear
certain clothing, decorations, and colors. Only nobles were allowed to wear feathers. The
emperor was the only one who could wear a turquoise cloak. Clothing showed a person’s
status in Aztec society. Wealthy Aztecs wore a lot of jewelry made from materials such
as metal, stone, leather, wood, feathers, shells, and clay. Leg and arm bracelets,
necklaces, earrings, and rings were popular. Some jewelry had bells that made jingling
sounds. Some Aztecs wore ear and nose plugs to show their rank.

LANGUAGE
The language spoken by the Aztecs was called Nahuatl. Its written
form had hieroglyphics and other symbols. Scribes worked for
palaces, law courts, temples, schools, and trading centers. They
©Teaching to the Middle

wrote historical records, tribute lists, calendars, laws, and

descriptions of professions and daily life. This writing was used on
monuments and sculptures. Historians used this information to learn
about Aztec society.
EDUCATION
Education was an important part of Aztec life. Both boys and girls attended school.
They were taught at home when they were young and then started school between the
ages of six and nine. Some children did not start formal school until they were 15 years
old though. There were two kinds of schools. The telpochcalli was a school for
commoners. Children were taught history, basic values, ritual dancing, singing, and the
language arts, such as public speaking. Boys received military training, while girls learned
to participate in religious ceremonies and traditions. Aztec children memorized many
things. The calmecac was a strict school for noble children. Students were trained for
military, religious, or political leadership roles at these schools. They learned how the
Aztec calendar worked and about religious festivals and ceremonies. They were also
taught reading, astronomy, history, math, architecture, basic law, and warfare.
GAMES
The Aztecs liked to play many different games. Patolli was a popular board game that
involved rolling dice and moving around game pieces. Ullamaliztli was a ball game that was
played on a court with a rubber ball. The ball was passed by players using their hips,
shoulders, heads, and knees. The object of the game was to get the ball through a ring
without using their feet or hands. Another game, Volodar, or the flying bird game,
involved players wearing bird costumes and competing to be the best “flying bird.” They
climbed a 60- to 90-foot-high pole and tied a rope to the top. They had to hang onto
the rope by holding their legs tightly together. They pushed off and swung upside down
around the pole. Points were awarded for speed, style, and costume. Spectators enjoyed
watching this game.
FOOD
Maize, similar to corn, was the main staple of the Aztec diet.
It was ground into flour and made into tortillas and tamales,
called tlaxcalli. Beans and squash were other important foods
to the Aztecs. They were grown in floating gardens on marshy waters alongside chile
peppers and tomatoes. Aztecs also ate insects, fish, honey, eggs, lizards, frogs, dogs,
and snakes. Ducks, turkeys, and other waterfowl were eaten too. The Aztecs also
fished for their food. One of the most valuable foods in Aztec society was the cocoa
bean, used to make chocolate. Wealthy Aztecs drank an early version of hot chocolate.
Aztecs who did not have much money rarely ate anything other than vegetables and
grains.
HOUSES
Wealthy Aztecs’ homes were built from sun-dried brick called adobe and sometimes
stone. They had a whitewash coating to make them sparkle in the sun. Homes had a
separate place for steam baths. Water was poured over hot stones to make steam.
©Teaching to the Middle

Bathing was an important part of everyday life for the Aztecs. Farmers lived in huts
with thatched roofs. They had very little furniture, wove mats for the floor, and
baskets to hold belongings. Each home had a garden to grow their own food. Homes
also had shrines to the gods.
Name _____________________________________________

Ancient Aztec: DAILY LIFE

AZTEC SOCIETY: Use the information in the passage to complete the chart.
RANK CLASS DESCRIPTION

1 Pipitlin

2 Macehualtin

3 Mayeque

4 Tlacotin

MATCHING: Choose the best answer.

1. ____ feathers A. Aztec farmers usually lived in these

2. ____ cloaks B. An Aztec school for commoners

3. ____ tepochcalli C. Only nobles were allowed to wear these

4. _____ loincloth D. Tied together to symbolize an Aztec marriage

5. _____ maize E. Language spoken by Aztecs

6. _____ Nahuatl F. Aztec food was grown in this type of garden

©Teaching to the Middle

7. _____ floating G. Aztec men typically wore these

8. ____ huts H. Flying bird game played by Aztecs

9. _____ Volodar I. Most important Aztec staple

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
10. Which best completes the analogy?
Women : 14-15 :: Men :_______
A. 16
B. 18
C. 20
D. 22

11. Which of the following is NOT true about Aztec marriage?

A. Women were allowed to divorce their husbands.
B. Matchmakers arranged marriages.
C. Couples jumped a broom to get married.
D. Families had to approve marriages.

12. What did Aztecs who did not have much money usually eat?
A. Honey and eggs
B. Insects and frogs
C. Turkeys and fish
D. Vegetables and grains

13. What was the goal of the game Ullamaliztli?

A. To be the first person around a game board.
B. To be the first person to get rid of all their cards.
C. To get the ball through a ring without using their feet or hands.
D. To have the best style when swinging.

14. Which is true about Aztec fashion?

A. All Aztecs dressed similar.
B. Clothing and jewelry revealed a person’s status.
C. All social classes were allowed to wear whatever they wanted.
D. Only the emperor was allowed to wear feathers.

SHORT ANSWER: Answer each question.

15. What were you most surprised to learn about the Aztecs? Explain.

16. Why were scribes important to Aztec society?

©Teaching to the Middle
 Ancient Aztec:
CLASSES
DAILY LIFE
There were four main classes that separated Aztec society. The piplitin,
or nobles were the highest class. Priests, lords, scribes, government, and
military leaders were nobles. Farmers, traders, warriors, and craftsmen
were the macehualtin, or commoners. Mayeque, or serfs, who worked
and lived on nobles’ land were below commoners. The lowest class in
Aztec society were those who were tlacotin, or the enslaved. They
became slaves for many reasons, such as punishment for a crime, unpaid
debts, or were captured in war.
FAMILIES
Families were important to the Aztecs. Weddings were arranged by
people known as matchmakers. Families then approved them. Men were
usually married around age 20, while women were around 14 or 15 years old. The bride’s
family served a feast, often for many days, to honor their daughter’s marriage. The
matchmaker carried the bride on his or her back to deliver her to her new home. The
bride and groom tied their cloaks together to symbolize their marriage. Women ran their
homes doing chores like cooking food and weaving clothing. Men usually worked outside the
home as farmers, warriors, or craftsmen. Children went to school or helped around the
house. Women were able to divorce their husbands. They received half their belongings if
they did so. Older family members were well respected and cared for by the Aztecs.
FASHION
The Aztecs lived in a warm climate, so men often wore loincloths. A loincloth is a single
piece of cloth that is wrapped around the hips. Men also wore long capes. Aztec women
wore long skirts and tops. Aztecs who did not have a lot of money usually wove their
own cloth and made their own clothes. There were laws that stated who could wear
certain clothing, decorations, and colors. Only nobles were allowed to wear feathers. The
emperor was the only one who could wear a turquoise cloak. Clothing showed a person’s
status in Aztec society. Wealthy Aztecs wore a lot of jewelry made from materials such
as metal, stone, leather, wood, feathers, shells, and clay. Leg and arm bracelets,
necklaces, earrings, and rings were popular. Some jewelry had bells that made jingling
sounds. Some Aztecs wore ear and nose plugs to show their rank.

LANGUAGE
The language spoken by the Aztecs was called Nahuatl. Its written
form had hieroglyphics and other symbols. Scribes worked for
palaces, law courts, temples, schools, and trading centers. They
©Teaching to the Middle

wrote historical records, tribute lists, calendars, laws, and

descriptions of professions and daily life. This writing was used on
monuments and sculptures. Historians used this information to learn
about Aztec society.
EDUCATION
Education was an important part of Aztec life. Both boys and girls attended school.
They were taught at home when they were young and then started school between the
ages of six and nine. Some children did not start formal school until they were 15 years
old though. There were two kinds of schools. The telpochcalli was a school for
commoners. Children were taught history, basic values, ritual dancing, singing, and the
language arts, such as public speaking. Boys received military training, while girls learned
to participate in religious ceremonies and traditions. Aztec children memorized many
things. The calmecac was a strict school for noble children. Students were trained for
military, religious, or political leadership roles at these schools. They learned how the
Aztec calendar worked and about religious festivals and ceremonies. They were also
taught reading, astronomy, history, math, architecture, basic law, and warfare.
GAMES
The Aztecs liked to play many different games. Patolli was a popular board game that
involved rolling dice and moving around game pieces. Ullamaliztli was a ball game that was
played on a court with a rubber ball. The ball was passed by players using their hips,
shoulders, heads, and knees. The object of the game was to get the ball through a ring
without using their feet or hands. Another game, Volodar, or the flying bird game,
involved players wearing bird costumes and competing to be the best “flying bird.” They
climbed a 60- to 90-foot-high pole and tied a rope to the top. They had to hang onto
the rope by holding their legs tightly together. They pushed off and swung upside down
around the pole. Points were awarded for speed, style, and costume. Spectators enjoyed
watching this game.
FOOD
Maize, similar to corn, was the main staple of the Aztec diet.
It was ground into flour and made into tortillas and tamales,
called tlaxcalli. Beans and squash were other important foods
to the Aztecs. They were grown in floating gardens on marshy waters alongside chile
peppers and tomatoes. Aztecs also ate insects, fish, honey, eggs, lizards, frogs, dogs,
and snakes. Ducks, turkeys, and other waterfowl were eaten too. The Aztecs also
fished for their food. One of the most valuable foods in Aztec society was the cocoa
bean, used to make chocolate. Wealthy Aztecs drank an early version of hot chocolate.
Aztecs who did not have much money rarely ate anything other than vegetables and
grains.
HOUSES
Wealthy Aztecs’ homes were built from sun-dried brick called adobe and sometimes
stone. They had a whitewash coating to make them sparkle in the sun. Homes had a
separate place for steam baths. Water was poured over hot stones to make steam.
©Teaching to the Middle

Bathing was an important part of everyday life for the Aztecs. Farmers lived in huts
with thatched roofs. They had very little furniture, wove mats for the floor, and
baskets to hold belongings. Each home had a garden to grow their own food. Homes
also had shrines to the gods.
Name _____________________________________________

Ancient Aztec: DAILY LIFE

AZTEC SOCIETY: Use the information in the passage to complete the chart.
RANK CLASS DESCRIPTION

1 Pipitlin

2 Macehualtin

3 Mayeque

4 Tlacotin

MATCHING: Choose the best answer.

1. ____ feathers A. Aztec farmers usually lived in these

2. ____ cloaks B. An Aztec school for commoners

3. ____ tepochcalli C. Only nobles were allowed to wear these

4. _____ loincloth D. Tied together to symbolize an Aztec marriage

5. _____ maize E. Language spoken by Aztecs

6. _____ Nahuatl F. Aztec food was grown in this type of garden

©Teaching to the Middle

7. _____ floating G. Aztec men typically wore these

8. ____ huts H. Flying bird game played by Aztecs

9. _____ Volodar I. Most important Aztec staple

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
10. Which best completes the analogy?
Women : 14-15 :: Men :_______
A. 16
B. 18
C. 20
D. 22

11. Which of the following is NOT true about Aztec marriage?

A. Women were allowed to divorce their husbands.
B. Matchmakers arranged marriages.
C. Couples jumped a broom to get married.
D. Families had to approve marriages.

12. What did Aztecs who did not have much money usually eat?
A. Honey and eggs
B. Insects and frogs
C. Turkeys and fish
D. Vegetables and grains

13. What was the goal of the game Ullamaliztli?

A. To be the first person around a game board.
B. To be the first person to get rid of all their cards.
C. To get the ball through a ring without using their feet or hands.
D. To have the best style when swinging.

14. Which is true about Aztec fashion?

A. All Aztecs dressed similar.
B. Clothing and jewelry revealed a person’s status.
C. All social classes were allowed to wear whatever they wanted.
D. Only the emperor was allowed to wear feathers.

SHORT ANSWER: Answer each question.

15. What were you most surprised to learn about the Aztecs? Explain.

16. Why were scribes important to Aztec society?

©Teaching to the Middle
Name ____KEY_________________________________________

Ancient Aztec: DAILY LIFE

AZTEC SOCIETY: Use the information in the passage to complete the chart.
RANK CLASS DESCRIPTION

Nobility
1 Pipitlin Priests, lords, scribes, government, and military leaders

Commoners
2 Macehualtin Farmers, traders, warriors, and craftsmen

Serfs
3 Mayeque worked and lived on nobles’ land

Slaves
4 Tlacotin became slaves for many reasons, such as punishment for a
crime, unpaid debts, or were captured in war

MATCHING: Choose the best answer.

1. __C__ feathers A. Aztec farmers usually lived in these

2. __D__ cloaks B. An Aztec school for commoners

3. __B__ tepochcalli C. Only nobles were allowed to wear these

4. __G___ loincloth D. Tied together to symbolize an Aztec marriage

5. __I___ maize E. Language spoken by Aztecs

6. __E___ Nahuatl F. Aztec food was grown in this type of garden

©Teaching to the Middle

7. ___F__ floating G. Aztec men typically wore these

8. __A__ huts H. Flying bird game played by Aztecs

9. __H___ Volodar I. Most important Aztec staple

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
10. Which best completes the analogy?
Women : 14-15 :: Men :_______
A. 16
B. 18
C. 20
D. 22

11. Which of the following is NOT true about Aztec marriage?

A. Women were allowed to divorce their husbands.
B. Matchmakers arranged marriages.
C. Couples jumped a broom to get married.
D. Families had to approve marriages.

12. What did Aztecs who did not have much money usually eat?
A. Honey and eggs
B. Insects and frogs
C. Turkeys and fish
D. Vegetables and grains

13. What was the goal of the game Ullamaliztli?

A. To be the first person around a game board.
B. To be the first person to get rid of all their cards.
C. To get the ball through a ring without using their feet or hands.
D. To have the best style when swinging.

14. Which is true about Aztec fashion?

A. All Aztecs dressed similar.
B. Clothing and jewelry revealed a person’s status.
C. All social classes were allowed to wear whatever they wanted.
D. Only the emperor was allowed to wear feathers.

SHORT ANSWER: Answer each question.

15. What were you most surprised to learn about the Aztecs? Explain. Answers will vary.

16. Why were scribes important to Aztec society? Answers will vary. They kept important
records. Historians were able to study their writing to learn about Aztec society.
©Teaching to the Middle
 THANKS!
©Teaching to the Middle

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