Ancient Aztec Government Part 2: The Calpulli

After the family, the basic unit of ancient Aztec government was the calpulli. Families didn't individually own land, the land was owned by a group of families, the calpulli. This structure of local government existed long before the Aztec empire. The leadership in the calpulli would be responsible for the basic needs of the group. They would set up the telpochalli, a school for common citizens (read more about the telpochcalli and other aspects of Aztec culture). They were also responsible to make sure taxes were collected from the group.

In the cities, calpullis became less family-related and more regional. As is the case today, city life brought many different individuals of different race and culture together.