Aztec Schools
When royal boys were young, they went to a school that was attached
to the temples. Girls and boys went to separate schools. The children learned
to understand the history and ways of their government. Their teachers were
priests and these children received a tough education in reading and writing.
At the age of fifteen, boys could continue to go to a calmecac and
continue to learn about history and religion or they could go to a cuicacalli
The cuicacalli was more of a military school. The royal boys were all taught
how to lead soldiers and received all of the education that prepared them to
become the leaders of the Aztecs.
The "worker’s" children (tradespeople, peasants, farmers and builders)
attended a local school, called telpochcalli. They were taught basic skills for
their jobs, how to be soldiers in warfare, and good citizenship. These
children learned the basics of their history and religion, but did not learn
leadership and reading/writing skills.
Aztec girls were mainly taught at home and began spinning cloth at 4
and cooking at 12. Their education was basically a training for marriage,
although royal girls spent a year at 12 or 13 helping in the temple, and some
became priestesses. Aztec women may not have had much official power,
but they were very important in everyday life.
Aztec fathers and mothers raised their children with care, making sure
the children knew their responsibilities and had the necessary life skills.
They warned the children against gambling, theft and gossip. When the
children misbehaved, the punishment was painful. One form of punishment
had the parent holding their child over a chili pepper fire and forcing them to
inhale the chili pepper smoke.
Aztec Schools
1.) What types of schools did the royal boys go to, what did they learn?
2.) What schools did the “worker’s” children go to? What did they learn there?
3.) What was the difference between a calmecac and a cuicacalli school?
4.) How were girls mostly educated?
5.) What was one form of punishment the father’s would give to a misbehaving
child?