What were the different classes in Aztec society?

Answer 1

The highest class were the pīpiltin or nobility. This status was not hereditary but later the class system took on hereditary aspects. The second class were the mācehualtin, originally peasants. Only around 20% of the population was dedicated to agriculture and food production. The other 80% of society were warriors, artisans and traders. Their works were an important source of income for the city.

Slaves or tlacotin also constituted an important class. Aztecs could become slaves because of debts, as a criminal punishment or as war captives. A slave could have possessions and even own other slaves. However, all of the slave's animals and excess money would go to his purchaser. Slaves could buy their liberty, and slaves could be set free if they had children with or were married to their masters. Upon the death of the master, slaves who had performed outstanding services were freed. The rest of the slaves were passed on as part of an inheritance.

Traveling merchants called pochtecah were a small, but important class as they not only facilitated commerce, but also communicated vital information across the empire and beyond its borders. They were often employed as spies.