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Women had limited leadership roles within the Aztec empire. Aztecs were not born slaves and could not inherit this status from their parents.

They were usually freed when their owners died, and could also gain their freedom by marrying their owner. Slaveowners were responsible for housing and feeding their slaves, and slaves generally could not be resold. Slaves had the right to marry, to have children, to substitute another individual in their place, and to buy their freedom. An individual could voluntarily sell himself or his children into slavery to pay back a debt (the latter required permission of the court). Prisoners of war who were not used as human sacrifices became slaves. Individuals became slaves (tlacotin) as a form of punishment for certain crimes or for failure to pay tribute. Serfs worked land that was owned by nobles and did not live in the calpulli. The Aztecs additionally had landless serfs and slaves. Commoners generally resided in calpulli (also referred to as calpolli), or neighborhood wards, which were led by a single nobleman and a council of commoner elders. Artisans and traveling merchants enjoyed the greatest amount of wealth and prestige within this class, and had their own self-governing trade guilds. The commoner class consisted of farmers, artisans, merchants, and low-level priests. Noble status was passed on through male and female lineages, and only nobles were permitted to display their wealth by wearing decorated capes and jewelry. Nobles were entitled to receive tribute from commoners in the form of goods, services, and labor. The tecuhtli included landowners, judges, and military commanders. Failure to do so would result in serious punishment or death. Priests had their own internal class system and were expected to be celibate and to refrain from alcohol. The noble class consisted of government and military leaders, high level priests, and lords (tecuhtli). The Aztecs followed a strict social hierarchy in which individuals were identified as nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, or slaves.