Aztec Education

Introduction Aztec children were educated at home before they

started school

It is estimated they started school between the ages 10 and 15

Children were pampered until they were three, then they were supposed to be hard-working and obedient

If children were disobedient, they were punished

Turn them into citizens with “a stone heart and a stone face”

What does it mean? How does this fit with citizenship?

Education was highly valued in Aztec society

Schooling was free

Every child went to school, this is called universal education

There were two kinds of schools

Calmecac (call-MEH-cakh)

Telpochcalli (tell-poach-CALL-lee)

Schools for Nobles The calmecac was the school for children born into the nobility

It was located in the neighbourhood where nobles lived and it was often attached to a temple

Students studied codices to learn about their society

Religion was also an important part of their education

What they studied What they trained to be

Astronomy/Astrology Generals in the Army

Mathematics Judges

Reading Priests

Writing Scribes

Music High government officials

Law Diplomats

The Calendar Teachers

Reading, Writing and Counting All higher education was based on

the ability to read and write using glyphs instead of letters

Only nobles would learn how to read and write

Commoners received their education through the spoken word

How does this enforce the social hierarchy?

What is our counting system based on?

The Aztec counting system was based on the number 20

It took on a sacred meaning Each month had 20 days

Military Training Boys trained as warriors at

school so they could defend the Aztec empire

Once their training was complete, they would serve as a soldier's servant and follow the army to observe

At 15 years old, boys would become warriors themselves and take an active role in battle

The eagle and jaguar were the most prestigious military orders

Why do you think this is?

Education for Commoners The commoners' schools were

called telpochcalli

All instruction was spoken – they needed to learn lessons through rote memorization

They were given lessons in Aztec history, religion and citizenship duties

Music was important to society, so they also learned to play flutes, drums and dance sacred dances

Boys spent much of their time in school doing hard labour, like digging ditches and carrying firewood

Girls and boys also received education from their parents

Educating Aztec Women Aztec women had little political power

The emperor and council members were all men

They thought it was important for women to be educated, however

Every girl received an education no matter her rank

At age 16 most got married and lived with their husbands

They then educated their own children

Although women could not hold positions in public office, they were not undervalued

Women were healers and doctors and often travelled with the army

Some became priestesses and their wisdom was highly sought

Older women acted as matchmakers or midwives

Social Roles• When an Aztec girl

was born, their umbilical cord was placed beneath the family fireplace

• When an Aztec boy was born, their umbilical cord was buried in a battlefield

• What do these actions tell us about gender roles?

Take care that your garments are such as are decent and proper; and

observe that you do not adorn yourself with much finery, since this is a mark of vanity and folly. As little

becoming is it that your dress should be . . . dirty, or ragged, since

rags are a mark of the low . . . When you speak, do not hurry your words . . . speak deliberately and

calmly. In walking . . . see that you behave becomingly, neither going

with haste, nor too slowly; since it is an evidence of being puffed up to

walk too slowly, and walking hastily causes a vicious habit of

restlessness and instability.-Advice to Aztec girl from her

mother