Role of Women Significant in the Aztec Society
Aztec society (a Pre-Columbian society) was a highly stratified and complex society that grew among the Aztecs of central Mexico centuries before Mexico became Spanish colony- before the Spanish conquest. It was created on the cultural basis of the greater area of Mesoamerica. Talk of politics, the society was located in Altepetl (the dependent city-state) comprised of smaller divisions called Capulli – which often comprised of one or more kinship groups. On social matters, the society depended on definite division between the free commoners and the nobles that were divided into hierarchies of accountabilities, …show more content…
One of the fibers was the ichtli drawn from Maguey plant leaves. The plant was a local plant well suited to seasonal drought, the thin soils, and regular frost in the Basin of Mexico. The leaves were cut, scraped, and soaked to separate the fiber from the leaf’s flesh. The fiber was later cleaned and spun into thread employing a spindle. The second fiber used was cotton. It could not be grown in the Basin of Mexico: it was rather brought to Aztec by trade or gift from nearby communities who resided in lowlands or temperate regions. The fibers were woven into clothes by employing the back strap loom. Employing these looms, the women created textiles with unique brocade and gauze design. Painted designs or embroidered was added after the cloth had been finished. Many designs had profound symbolic meanings that promoted the value of the cloth. The looms created rectangular pieces of cloth that served as loincloth and capes for men and over blouses and skirts for women with a little more tailoring.2 This helped in promoting the culture of Aztec and giving them an identity in as far as dressing is …show more content…
They used herbal medicines, sweat bath treatments, and massage therapy in promoting childbirth and treating diseases. Women alongside men visited the sweat baths that were mostly associated with women. Women received frequent sweat baths after and before giving birth to ensure a triumphant reproduction. Women, who were healers, evaluated the prognosis and the causes of illness through different kinds of divination. Currently in Mesoamerica, the ideal interpretation of divination needs dialogue between the diviner and the client. The client gives information on his or her subjective affairs and the diviner employs the knowledge interprets the divination into wise responses and helpful advice.4 Therefore, divination may have given the client pieces of advice on inter-household relationships and family affairs and improved the client’s ability to handle these affairs productively. This signifies how women promoted healthcare to