The Mexica craftsmen were organized into a hierarchy of guilds, with each guild having its own patron deity, its own temple, and its own rituals. The guilds were responsible for the training of new craftsmen, for the regulation of production, and for the maintenance of the quality of the products. The guilds shaped the Mexica social and economic life, and they played a major role in the cultural and religious life of the state.
The Guilds of the Mexica
The most important guilds of the Mexica included the featherworkers, the potters, the metalworkers, the stonecutters, the weavers, and the basketweavers. Each guild had its own neighborhood in Tenochtitlan, and the craftsmen of each guild lived and worked together. The guilds were led by senior craftsmen, who were elected by the members of the guild.
The senior craftsmen were responsible for the supervision of the production, the training of the new craftsmen, and the maintenance of the quality of the products. The senior craftsmen also represented the guild in the public events and in the dealings with the state. The guilds shaped the Mexica social and political life, and they had a significant influence on the cultural and economic life of the state.
The Patron Deities of the Guilds
The Mexica guilds had their own patron deities, and they performed elaborate rituals to honor their patron deities. The most important of these deities were Quetzalcoatl, the patron of the featherworkers, and various other deities associated with the arts and the crafts. The guilds had their own temples in Tenochtitlan, and they performed regular rituals to honor the patron deities.
The rituals of the guilds included the offering of the first fruits of the production, the sacrifice of human victims in the most important ceremonies, and the performance of the monthly festivals of the veintenas. The guilds also had their own priests, who were responsible for the religious life of the guild.
The Training of the New Craftsmen
The guilds were responsible for the training of the new craftsmen, and the training was a long and demanding process. The apprentices were required to learn the techniques of the craft, the use of the tools, and the traditions of the guild. The training typically began in childhood, and the apprentices were required to work under the supervision of the senior craftsmen for a period of several years.
The training also included the religious and cultural education of the apprentices, and the apprentices were required to learn the rituals, the songs, and the prayers of the guild. The training shaped the Mexica educational system, and it was a way of preserving the traditions of the craft and ensuring the quality of the products.
The Regulation of the Production
The guilds were also responsible for the regulation of the production, and the senior craftsmen were required to ensure that the products met the standards of the guild. The guild had the power to inspect the workshops and to confiscate the products that did not meet the standards. The guilds also had the power to set the prices of the products and to regulate the trade in the products.
The regulation of the production shaped the Mexica economic system, and it was a way of ensuring that the products were of high quality and that the trade was conducted fairly. The guilds were also responsible for the prevention of fraud and the protection of the consumers, and they had the power to impose penalties on the craftsmen who violated the regulations.
The Survival of the Guild Tradition
Many of the Mexica guilds have survived in the modern Mexican craft tradition, and the modern Mexican craftsmen continue to organize themselves in similar ways. The featherworkers, the potters, the weavers, and the other craftsmen continue to use the techniques and the traditions of their Mexica ancestors, and they continue to play an important role in the Mexican cultural and economic life.
The survival of the guild tradition is evidence of the lasting influence of the Mexica culture, and it is a reminder of the cultural inheritance of the Mexica. The modern Mexican craftsmen are also an important part of the Mexican national identity, and they are widely recognized as one of the distinctive elements of the Mexican craft tradition.
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