Pre-colonialized Aztec Social Pyramid

Royalty

Nobility

Warriors

Commoners and Slaves

1%

1%

18%

80%

Colonial Era Social PyramidAfter Cortes and his army conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they and other Spaniards ruled the colony of New Spain for the kingdom of

Spain.

Peninsulares

Creoles

Mestizos

Indians

1%

1%

3%

95%

Independence Social PyramidExcept for the peninsulares, each class on the social hierarchy had

reasons to resent Spanish rule. Mestizos and Indians started a revolt for independence in 1810; criollo leaders took over the movement and

won independence from Spain in 1821.

Criollos

Mestizos

Indians

18%

21%

61%

Contemporary Social PyramidBecause of the Mexican revolution, social and economic class lines began to blur.

Formerly racial terms evolved to take a cultural meaning. For example, the majority of Mexicans today are mestizos culturally and racially. Yes, racial mestizos may be

socioeconomically poor, middle class, or wealthy. Moreover, many racial Indians have been brought up in urban mestizo culture and speak only Spanish

Upper class

Middle Class

Lower class

5%

35%

60%