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Marriage:
At about age 20, men married women who were ages 14-15. A man could have
more than one wife as long as he could support her. Weddings were
arranged, usually with the help of a matchmaker.
Matchmakers
were usually old women. The bride’s family gave a party for three or
four days before the wedding. The day of the wedding, the bride rode
piggyback on the matchmaker to her new home. There, while they were
wearing them, in the front the hearth (the fireplace), the bride and
grooms coats were tied together. From that point on, they were married.
New Babies: The
birth of a baby was a really big deal. The Aztecs welcomed all life. The
birth of a boy or a girl was celebrated. This was true for nobles and
commoners.
Correct
Behavior:
The Aztecs were very concerned that all their citizens behave correctly.
This code of behavior was written down. And it was the law. Children were
taught correct behavior in the Aztec schools.
Slaves:
The Aztec nobles had slaves. Slaves were not captured people. They were
Aztecs.
Poetry:
For all their love of war, the Aztecs had a softer side. They loved to
write and to read poetry. Much of their poetry was about a heroic act of
love, war, or religion.
Games:
The Aztecs loved games. They loved to give people a sporting chance. Some
of the games they played included a ball
game similar to one played by the ancient Maya. In fact, the
game probably was borrow from the Mayas (who most probably borrowed it
from the Olmecs, the people before them.)
Schools: Kids
went to school. To build the
city they wanted, they knew that they would need many engineers, builders,
and traders. To solve this problem, the Aztecs created schools for their
children. Attendance at school was mandatory.
All Aztec children had to
attend school, even girls and slaves. The Aztecs were the only people in
the world at this time in history to have free schools that every child
had to attend by law.
Slaves
School
Correct
Behavior
Specialized
Professions
Life
in Aztec Times
The
Aztec Culture
Aztecs
for Kids
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