1. For the Good of the People
Social Studies 8
Chapter 8

2. For the Good of the People
Our inquiry question for chapter 8 is:
How does a society’s way of looking at the world influence its customs, choices, and decisions?

3. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
The Inquiry Question for this section is:
How does the structure of Aztec society tell us what was important to the Aztec people?

4. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
Aztec society was built upon a hierarchy.
Typically you were born into a particular class and that determined what you did in life.
There are some examples of people moving up through the ranks by their own efforts.

5. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
This diagram illustrates the Aztec social structure (page 172)
How similar is this to the European social structure before the enlightenment?

6. The Renaissance Social Hierarchy

7. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
The Role of the Emperor
The emperor had many privileges
Treated like a god
Given every possible luxury
Absolute power

8. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
The Emperor had many responsibilities
Commander of the Army
The emperor had to be a skilled warrior
Expert in military strategy
Able to lead in battle
Head of State
All decisions concerning the empire made by him.
All consequences rested on him
Chief Priest
Maintained the Aztec religion

9. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
Turn to page 173 and read the Think it Through section in the bottom right hand corner.
What different perceptions are created by the terms Emperor and Great Speaker?

10. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
Family Clans
Much of Aztec society was organized into calpolli.
Community groups based on neighborhood, occupation, or genealogy.
Merchants
The richest calpolli was the merchants.
Their trade made them very wealthy.
Their knowledge made them very important.

11. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
Farmers
Another calpolli was the farmers who grew and provided food for the empire.
Paid their taxes in produce to support the emperor.
Artisans
A third calpolli was the artisans who produced finished goods (cloth, art, jewelry, ect.)
Mainly produced goods for the rich.

12. The Aztec Social Hierarchy
Turn to page 178
Read the paragraph under the heading “Signs of Status”
Then read the “Exploring Sources” section at the bottom of the page.
In our society how do we judge people’s status?
How do we try to maintain our status?