text: Calpulli were an extremely important part of Aztec warfare. Calpulli acted as a large house for your neighbors and local community in the Aztec culture. Calpulli were controlled by certain high ranking families and helped plan out the territory functions, coordinate farming strategies and food production plans, as well as collecting taxes for the empire. Calpulli were extremely important in warfare. Family and pride were extremely important aspects of Aztec culture, so it was very important to fight for your calpulli and fly your banner with pride. Calpulli operated schools for young men to transform into warriors. Having a strong Calpulli was essential as it helped protect you from other calpulli and showed your pride.
  Training
  The formal education of the Aztecs was to train and teach young boys how to function in their society, particularly as warriors. The Aztecs had a relatively small standing army. Only the elite soldiers, part of the warrior societies (such as the Jaguar Knights), and the soldiers stationed at the few Aztec fortifications were full-time. Nevertheless, every boy was trained to become a warrior with the exception of nobles. Trades such as farming and artisan skills were not taught at the two formal schools. All boys who were between the ages of ten and twenty years old would attend one of the two schools: the Telpochcalli or the neighborhood school for commoners, and the Calmecac which was the exclusive school for nobles. At the Telpochcalli, students would learn the art of warfare, and would become warriors. At the Calmecac students would be trained to become military leaders, priests, government officials, etc.