The basic unit of Mexica society was the calpulli, a kin-based social group that combined elements of the family, the clan, and the neighborhood. Within the calpulli, the basic unit was the extended family, which typically included a husband and wife, their unmarried children, and their married sons and their families. The Mexica family was patriarchal, with the father as the head of the household, and the women of the household had a clearly defined role. The birth of a child was a major event, marked by a series of rituals that began before birth and continued through early childhood, and the raising of children was a major preoccupation of Mexica society. The Mexica also had a clear distinction between legitimate marriage and informal unions, and the children of informal unions were considered to be of lower social status.
The Calpulli Household
The calpulli was the basic unit of Mexica social and political organization, and it was the most important kin group in Mexica life. The calpulli was a group of related families who lived in the same neighborhood, who worked the same lands, and who worshipped the same gods. Each calpulli had its own lands, its own temple, its own patron deity, and its own chief, who was chosen from among the senior men of the group.
Within the calpulli, the basic unit was the extended family, which typically included the patriarch, his wife, their unmarried children, their married sons and the wives and children of those sons, and sometimes other relatives. The patriarch was the head of the household, and he was responsible for the religious devotions, the economic decisions, and the discipline of the household. The patriarch’s wife, the matriarch, was responsible for the household economy, for the preparation of food, and for the care of the children.
The Mexica household was a place of intense activity, with a wide range of tasks to be performed. The women of the household prepared the food, cared for the children, wove the cloth, and performed the household rituals. The men of the household worked the chinampas, served in the military, and participated in the civic life of the calpulli. The children of the household learned the skills of Mexica life by participating in the work of the household, and they were gradually introduced to the responsibilities of adulthood.
Birth and Infancy
The birth of a child was a major event in Mexica life, and it was marked by a series of rituals that began before birth and continued through early childhood. The Mexica held that the day of birth shaped much of a person’s destiny. The Tonalpohualli was consulted when birth to choose the child’s name and to determine which protective rituals the family needed to perform. The Mexica believed that each person had a personal day sign, called the tonalli, that was a portion of the divine force residing in the person, and they performed rituals to honor this personal day sign.
The birth itself was attended by a midwife, called the ticitl, who was a religious specialist with special training in the care of women in childbirth. The midwife performed a wide range of functions, including the practical care of the mother and the newborn, the prayers and rituals of welcome, and the consultation of the calendar to determine the child’s name. The midwife was an important figure in the calpulli, and she was honored for her role in bringing new life into the community.
The rituals of infancy included the cutting of the umbilical cord, the washing of the child, the binding of the cradle, and the presentation of the child to the gods. The Mexica believed that the child was particularly vulnerable to the influence of evil spirits and to the malevolence of witches, and they performed a series of protective rituals to safeguard the child. The child was named on the day of birth, or shortly thereafter, and the name was chosen to honor the day sign and the personal tonalli of the child.
Marriage Customs
The Mexica practiced a form of marriage that was monogamous in principle, although polygamy was permitted for nobles and for those who could afford it. Marriage was arranged by the families, and the bride and groom were expected to enter into the union with the consent of their parents. The Mexica also had a clear distinction between legitimate marriage and informal unions, and the children of informal unions were considered to be of lower social status.
The marriage ceremony was a complex ritual that involved the exchange of gifts, the consultation of the calendar, the tying of the couple’s garments, and the offering of prayers to the gods. The ceremony was performed by a priest, and it was attended by the families of the bride and groom. The marriage was a religious as well as a social institution, and the couple were required to honor the gods of marriage and to fulfill the religious obligations of their new status.
The Mexica also had a clear distinction between the rights of men and women in marriage. The husband was the head of the household, and the wife was expected to obey him and to support his decisions. The wife, however, had important rights, including the right to own property, the right to divorce, and the right to be supported by her husband. Adultery was a serious offense, and it was severely punished, particularly if a married woman was involved with a man other than her husband.
Childhood and Upbringing
Childhood was divided into several stages, each with its own rituals and obligations. The first stage, infancy, lasted until the child was weaned, typically at about two or three years of age. During this period, the child was cared for by the mother and the other women of the household. The second stage, early childhood, lasted until the child was about seven years old, and it was a period of play, of learning, and of light work around the household. The third stage, late childhood, lasted until the child reached puberty, and it was a period of more serious work and of formal education.
The upbringing of Mexica children was strict, and the Mexica believed that physical punishment was central to education. The Mexica parents used a wide range of disciplinary techniques, including scolding, beating, and withholding food, to correct the behavior of their children. The Mexica also placed great emphasis on the moral education of the young, and they used a wide range of proverbs, songs, and stories to teach the children the values of Mexica life.
The Mexica children began to learn the skills of adulthood at an early age. The girls learned the domestic skills, including the preparation of food, the weaving of cloth, and the care of the household. The boys learned the outdoor skills, including the tending of animals, the working of the fields, and the use of weapons. The children of the nobility were sent to the calmecac, while the children of the commoners were sent to the telpochcalli.
Death and Ancestor Veneration
The Mexica believed that the fate of the dead depended on the manner of their death. Warriors who died in battle, women who died in childbirth, and victims of sacrifice were believed to join the sun and to accompany it on its daily journey across the sky. Others were believed to travel to Mictlan, the underworld, where they would spend eternity in a place of rest. The journey to Mictlan was long and difficult, and the dead were believed to need a wide range of offerings to help them on their way.
The Mexica practiced ancestor veneration, and they believed that the dead could influence the lives of the living. The dead were honored with offerings of food, drink, and prayers, and they were remembered on the anniversaries of their death. The Mexica also built shrines to the ancestors in their homes, and they performed regular rituals to honor them. The cult of the ancestors was central to Mexica religious life, and it helped to maintain the connection between the living and the dead.
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See also:
- What was childhood like in Aztec society? — the stages of childhood
- What was the role of midwives in Aztec births? — the ticitl
- How did Aztec names and naming ceremonies work? — the naming rituals
- Social Classes and Structure in Aztec Society — the social context
- Education in Aztec Civilization — the formal training of the young
- Aztec Society and Daily Life — the broader social context