The Mexica educational system was rigorous and demanding, and the subjects taught in the calmecac and the telpochcalli covered a wide range of topics. The curriculum of both types of school included both intellectual and physical training, and the Mexica placed great emphasis on the development of public speaking and the memorization of large bodies of material.
The Religious Curriculum
The subjects taught in the Mexica schools began with religion, which was the foundation of the Mexica educational system. The students learned the myths of the creation, the rituals of the religious year, and the duties of the priests. They learned the attributes and the mythology of the major gods, including Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, and Quetzalcoatl. They also learned the songs and the prayers that were used in the religious rituals.
The students of the calmecac were also required to study the religious calendar in detail, including the Tonalpohualli and the Xiuhpohualli. They were required to know the auspicious days for various activities, and they were required to be able to determine the proper ceremonies for each day.
The Intellectual Curriculum
The subjects taught in the Mexica schools also included a wide range of intellectual topics, including writing, mathematics, and astronomy. The students of the calmecac were required to learn the Mexica writing system, which was a combination of pictographic and phonetic elements. They were also required to learn the Mexica mathematical system, which was a vigesimal, or base-20, system.
The students of the calmecac were also required to study astronomy, including the movements of the sun, the moon, and the planets, and the cycles of the calendar. The Mexica were skilled astronomers, and they were able to predict eclipses and to keep careful records of the movements of the celestial bodies.
The Rhetorical Curriculum
The Mexica placed great emphasis on the development of public speaking, and the training of orators was a major part of the curriculum. The students of the calmecac were required to memorize a wide range of speeches, poems, and songs, and they were required to be able to deliver them with skill and eloquence. The Mexica believed that public speaking was a key to social and political success, and the greatest orators were among the most respected figures in Mexica society.
The rhetorical training included not only the memorization of texts but also the development of style, of gesture, and of voice. The students were taught to use metaphors, to structure their arguments, and to move their audiences. The Mexica had a rich tradition of oratory, and the best orators were able to sway the opinions of their listeners and to influence the course of events.
The Historical Curriculum
The Mexica curriculum also included a strong historical component, and the students were required to learn the history of the Mexica migration, the founding of Tenochtitlan, and the history of the Triple Alliance. The students were required to know the names of the Tlatoani and the major events of the Mexica history, and they were required to be able to recite the history in chronological order.
The Mexica believed that the knowledge of history was essential for the proper understanding of the present, and the historical training shaped the Mexica system of education. The students of the calmecac were required to memorize the codices that recorded the Mexica history, and they were required to be able to interpret the codices for the benefit of their listeners.
Related Articles
- Education in Aztec Civilization — the broader context
- What was the calmecac, the priestly school? — the school
- What was the telpochcalli, the warrior school? — the other school
- The Aztec Calendar and Timekeeping — the calendar
- Writing, Glyphs, and Codices — the writing system
- Aztec Society and Daily Life — the broader context