Briefly describe the Aztec Society
The Aztec society was divided into three classes-slaves, commoners, and nobility.
Slaves:
The children of poor parents could be sold, usually for only a certain time period. Slaves could buy back their freedom.
The slaves that escaped and reached the royal palace without being caught were given their freedom instantly.
Commoners:
The most numerous social group was known as the macehualtin; these people were engaged in agriculture and common trades. Although they worked on the land in family units and were allowed to keep their produce, the land itself was collectively owned by the inhabitants of the neighborhood or calpulli.
Commoners were given lifetime ownership of an area of land. The lowest group of commoners were not allowed to own property. They were tenant farmers, they just got the right to use the land and never became its owners.
The nobilities
They were the people who were nobles by birth, priests, and those who earned their rank.
The warriors, priests, and the nobility were considered to be among the most respected in the Aztec social hierarchy.
The long distance traders also enjoyed considerable privileges and often served the government as ambassadors and spies. The most outstanding artisans, physicians and truly wise teachers were also highly respected.
