5611as+Aztec+Politics

** Three Leaders in the Aztec Culture  **
 * Ancient Culture **

** Ashley Scavron  **

** Reading/ Language Arts  ** ** Mr. Schoch  ** ** June 7, 2012  **


 * The Aztec are just not known for introducing hot chocolate and turkey, but also for their politicians. Aztec means “people of the land of the heron” in their language call Nahuatl. They were very respectful to people coming from neighboring cities ( [|http://www.mexica.net] ). Their legacy lasted from 1350 CE all the way to 1525 CE ( [|http://www.aztec-history.com] ). Everybody in their culture had a different part of living, like the merchants that traveled for distances or the sculptors just stay in one spot and worked. The Great king, the Prime Minister, and the Ambassador play a big part in the Aztec culture. **


 * First, the Great King is the one person that has the most power else in the Aztec empire. They are also known for being godlike. Like most High-ranking people, the Great King was treated royally, unlike low-ranking people like hill farmers, latrine boatmen, and the tanner. The Great king can declare war and the installing of lords, or making sure that the gods are paid (Coulter 28). Paying the gods means with human blood (Rees 20). Also, the Great King can have several wives (Wood 24). **


 * Another high-ranking official that is part of the government is the Prime Minister or cihuacoatl (Coulter 32). Cihuacoatl mean the “snake woman” in their language Nauhuatl. If you are the Prime Minister, you are the second-in-command to the Great King (Coulter 32). The Prime Minister organizes the military and is the chief justice of the supreme court (Coulter 32). To be polite to commoners, you might have to lie to them to make them understand you (Coulter 32). The Prime Minister is more important than a gift-giver that is insulted if he didn’t give you a fabulous cape (Coulter 32). **


 * Finally, the Ambassador is another high ranking person. An Ambassador travels long distances and is a noble. **


 * Glossary **


 * commoners- **


 * hill farmer- **


 * latrine boatmen- **


 * tanner- **

** Works Cited  **


 * Coulter, Laurie, and Martha Newbigging. Ballplayers and Bonesetters: One Hundred Ancient Aztec and Maya Jobs You Might Have Adored or Abhorred. Toronto: Annick, 2008. Print. **


 * Rees, Rosemary. The Aztecs. Des Plaines, IL: Heinemann Library, 1999. Print. **


 * Wood, Tim. The Aztecs. New York: Viking, 1992. Print. **