what are calpulli
In precolumbian Aztec society, a calpulli (from Classical Nahuatl calpÅlli, [kaÉ¬ËpoËlËi] , meaning large house) was the designation of an organizational unit below the level of the Altepetl citystate.ewcomers from other altepetl were allowed to settle down and become part of the calpulli. Michael Smith (2003) shows that in some Nahua cities, notably Otumba, each calpulli specialised in a trade and took almost the form of a trade guild.