12. The Aztec hierarchy continued in the afterlife
Aztec society was highly stratified with the Emperor at the top, followed by the members of the nobility, the warriors, merchants, clerks, commoners, and farmers. At the bottom were the peasants and slaves. None of the members of Aztec society possessed social mobility other than the warriors, who could elevate their status through military success. The social status of women was entirely dependent on her husband. Thus there was great motivation to achieve military prowess and success and respect as a warrior. The lack of social mobility meant that if a person was born poor he was likely to remain poor unless he created a military career, which as has been seen meant the successful capture of an enemy. The Aztecs also believed in an afterworld, though their concepts considering life after death and eternity remain vague and debated among experts.
It is known that the Aztecs believed that the status of life was retained after death, and a poor commoner in this world remained a poor commoner in the next, with no opportunity to change status. The manner of death affected the station in the next life as well, a warrior dying in battle went to the second-highest level of reward (the highest was occupied by the gods and emperors) as did those who died in sacrificial rituals – as long as they died bravely and willingly rather than resisting. Those who died of illness or accident went to the lowest level, the netherworld. The beliefs of the Aztec afterworld were taught by parents and the priests throughout Aztec society, justifying and enshrining the brutality of life and death in the Aztec world as a means of achieving a better afterlife either through sacrifice as a warrior or as a willing offering to the gods.