Aztec Women Roles + Domestic Life
How were Aztec women involved in everyday life? (Multiple Answers)
Economy, religion, child care, teaching, trading, agriculture, and crafts
True or False, La Malinche was loved by her family and grew up learning multiple languages.
False
What role did women play in religion within the home? (Multiple Answers)
-offer prayers and sacrifices to gods
- teach children about their deities and customs
How and where did women serve as educators?
In the home, taught domestic tasks to children
How were women involved in agriculture? (Multiple Answers)
Responsible for grinding maize and spinning/weaving cotton
What role did women play in family life? (Multiple answers)
-took care of children
-managed the household
How many languages did Malintzin know? (you can put a number or, for extra 5 points, name them)
3, Spanish, Nahuatl, and Yucatec
True or False, women could hold a position of religious power.
True, some women choose to be priestesses, where they perform certain ceremonies and maintain the temples.
At what age did girls leave the home and pursue further education?
Around age 12
What was a form of currency used in Aztec society?
Woven textiles created by women
True or False, did Aztec women hold some kind of power or influence at each social level?
TRUE, the women’s role was sacred and important in Aztec culture!
True or False. With the title “Doña”, meaning “Lady”, Malintzin was considered a free person.
False; it was unusual for enslaved women to have such titles; she was was an exception
What was the Calmecac?
sacred religious institution that women attended when they devoted their lives to the gods.
True or False, the Calmecac provided domestic education to Aztec girls
False, the Calmecac provided more in depth lessons to the nobles, like astrology, art and music.
True or False, women were allowed to buy in the Aztec markets but nothing more.
False! Women were both traders and merchants, and dominated the Aztec markets.
What were considered sacred duties of Aztec women?
Childbearing and childrearing
When was Malintzin finally able to be “free”
After Cortes married her to one of his captains, she became a free Spanish noblewoman.
What types of gods and deities did the Aztec people worship? (extra 5 points if you name 3!)
Earth goddess, childbirth/fertility goddess, beauty/love goddess
How was Aztec society stratified through education?
Separate schools, Cuicacalli vs. Calmecac for the more elite children
What was the pochteca?
The professional merchant class that women could be a part of. It involved long trade expeditions, but women gained considerable wealth.
Were women seen in battle? If so, what evidence is there to prove this?
Yes, Goddesses represented warriors/Historical accounts.
Hernan Cortes declared that Melitzen was second only to __on the list of reasons his conquest had succeeded
GOD
What does the presence of female goddesses show about the Aztec culture / community?
There was a type of respect given to feminine powers
What did the telpochcalli provide?
Provided overarching education for Aztec children, as well as military training for boys.
What notable rights did women have in the economy? (Multiple Answers)
They were able to own, inherit and pass down land.