Final answer:
The Aztec lords, or tecuhtli, were members of the noble class, including military leaders, judges, and priests, who exerted control over the empire's social and political matters. They played roles in rituals, such as emperor coronations, and were part of the Council of Four that selected the empire's ruler, the Huey Tlatoani.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lords or tecuhlti of the Aztecs were members of the noble class that held various positions of power within the Aztec society. The Aztec nobility included military leaders, priests, and judges. A notable governing body was the Council of Four, made up of nobles who had the significant task of selecting the Aztec emperor, known as the Huey Tlatoani, from among their ranks. Nobles, rich in wealth and power, exerted influence over the commoners and the military, perpetuating their elevated status through displays of wealth and participation in important ceremonies, such as elaborate rituals for coronation of emperors like Montezuma. The Aztec social structure was highly stratified with the nobility at the top, followed by specialized craftspeople, merchants, scribes, commoners with land, and at the bottom enslaved people and landless commoners.
Important Aztec emperors throughout history included Itzcoatl, Montezuma the Elder, Axayacatl, Tizoc, and Ahuitzotl. These rulers were venerated and were responsible for the expansion and fortification of the Aztec Empire. The transformation in leadership seen across various reigns signified the dynamic nature of the Aztec civilization, which was heavily influenced by prior Mesoamerican cultures such as the Toltec and the Teotihuacan. The influence of these earlier cultures is evident in the Aztec worship of gods like Tlaloc, the Rain or Storm God, and Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent.