Fishermen, Hunters, Farmers: Most people in the Aztec world were farmers. Farmers were taught how to be good farmers in the Aztec schools. Farmers were in charge of building the floating gardens. Fisherman fished. Hunters hunted.

Soldiers: Aztec soldiers were very fierce. Aztecs fought nearly constant wars, once they started to expand their empire. Soldiers also protected the empires trade routes. Soldiers were highly respected. If they lived long enough, they were able to retire in style.

 

School Teachers: The job of teacher was highly respected. All Aztec children, including slaves, had to attend school. Click here to learn more about kids in school.

 

Priests: Priests were religious leaders. They were also important in government. They conduced the many ceremonies and sacrifices needed to feed the hungry Aztec gods. The priests created the calendars, and kept records written on codices in hieroglyphics. Some priests taught in the schools.

 

Traders: Because the Aztecs were feared and powerful, traders could travel in safely along the waterways and shoreline. Many traders became very rich. They bartered for luxury goods, jewelry, cocoa beans, jaguar skins, gold, silver and art. The traders brought their goods back to the Aztec marketplace where they were sold to merchants.

 

Merchants: Merchants typically specialized. One merchant might sell only woven baskets. Another might sell only jewelry. There were many markets in the bustling capital city of Tenochtitlan. There were very few robberies or incidents of theft. Aztec laws were very severe as was their punishment for breaking a law.

 

Doctors: Aztec medicine was quite advanced. Doctors were trained in Aztec schools. They made about 1000 different medicines. They healed wounds, set broken bones, and provided medicine to cure a stomachache. They also offered dental care.

 

Engineers and Builders: Trained in the Aztec schools, both engineers and builders were highly respected. It was their job to design and manage the construction of temples, pyramids, plazas, and palaces. 

 

Craftsmen: Aztec craftsmen created works of art. Their art was colorful and typically religious in nature. They used gold, silver, clay, paints, and textiles to create beautiful things.

 

Matchmakers: Matchmakers were soothsayers. They studied omens and signs to make sure two people would be happy together. The matchmaker stayed involved in the marriage until the couple “tied the knot”.

 

Ballplayer: One of the most highly respected professions in the Aztec world was that of ballplayer.

Aztec Ball Game & Players