 |
|
 |
 Supported by the Aztec nobility, the emperor stood at the pinnacle of Aztec society. He and the rest of the Aztec ruling class lived near the center of Tenochtitlan, the capital city. By law, the emperor and nobility enjoyed certain possessions and privileges not accessible to the majority of citizens.
Collecting Tribute
Aztec rulers required that citizens and conquered peoples pay taxes in the form of tribute—foodstuffs, raw materials, and manufactured goods. Tribute stewards collected these tribute items from conquered towns and cities, securing their wealth for the Aztec ruling class.
Back inTenochtitlan, the emperor and the nobility wore clothes made from the finest cotton cloth, ate food on high-quality ceramic plates, drank chocolate made from valuable cacao beans, and lived in luxurious quarters surrounding the sacred precinct in the center of town.
 The Royal Palace
Known as the huey tlatoani [ooh-ee tla-toe-AHN-ee] or "great king," the emperor lived in a sumptuous palace filled with luxuries. The Spanish chronicler Bernal Díaz described the palace of Emperor Moctezuma II (who ruled from AD 1502-1520) as a sprawling, two-story complex.
Gardens, law courts, council rooms, bureaucratic offices—even a zoo—occupied much of the palace. One of the largest rooms housed tribute goods, and the emperor himself resided on the second floor. But with power and prestige, however, came duties and responsibilities.
Continue to Rulers: Their Role. >>
|
|
|
|
