Like nearly all of the ancient civilizations, the rich lived in luxury and the poor worked. In the Aztec civilization, class structure was very important.  

Homes:  

The Rich: Homes of the nobles and wealthy were made of sun-dried brick. If you were very wealthy, you home could be made of stone. All homes were whitewashed to make them look clean and shiny. Each noble home had a separate room for steam bathing. Water was poured over heated stones. Bathing was an important part of daily life and of religion. Bathing was believed to clean both the body and soul.  

The Poor: Homes of the farmers and other commoners were huts with thatched roofs. Furniture was limited. They might have mats on the floor and woven trunks to hold belongings. They had blankets and pottery for cooking. Everyone had a garden of their own, including farmers.     

Clothing:    

Upper Class: People in the upper class wore clothing decorated with feathers and embroidery to show their status. They also carried fans made of feathers.    

Common People: It was against the law for commoners to wear feathers. It was against the law for commoners to carry fans. If commoners broke these laws, they were killed.    

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.

Specialized Professions

The Aztec Culture

Aztecs for Kids