Inca Empire Taylor and Domerese

Content Area: Social Studies Grade Level: 7 Goal: I can describe the diverse characteristics of early civilization in the Americas by comparing and contrasting American Indian civilizations and societies such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Success Criteria: Given information about life in the Aztec culture, students will answer questions with 80% accuracy. W4.3.2—State proposed standards

The Inca Location

The Inca Children Only the kids of nobles (and the royal family) went to school. Kids of commoners learned from their fathers and mothers to do “daily work.” A sort of Caste System (born into and stay in the same caste/class all your life). As time went on, the noble class started to disappear and most of society was a commoner. This left government positions open. To gain more government positions, IQ tests were given to find the smartest kids. High IQ = a track to government position. But still most kids became farmers. When boys turned 14 each boy received a man's name, put on a breechcloth his mother had made, and joined the men of the village at a simple feast.  girls had a similar ceremony, they were given an embroidered gown, a woman's name, and each had their own party.  There was no formal education for farm kids. They began working at a very early age, as young as 3 years old.

Inca Social Structure

Inca Social Structure High Class-High Priest, King, Council Middle Class-Nobles, Skilled workers (merchants, traders, etc.) Low Class-Commoners, such as farmers, slaves

Inca Food Commoners ate little meat, but all people ate well. Inca were the first to grow potatoes (Thank them for French fries and potato chips!) Three main crops were corn, potatoes, and quinoa, which is a seed used to make flour and soups. Also grew tomatoes, avocados, peppers, strawberries, peanuts, squash, sweet potatoes, beans, pineapple, bananas, spices, and coco leaves to make chocolate. They also kept honeybees! Inca invented terrace farming due to little flat land in the mountains. Learned to dry food so it would last longer. They left it out to freeze………or They stamped on it until most of the water was out and then left it out in the sun to finish drying.

Inca Women Women in Inca society were viewed as a complementary piece to the men, but still necessary. Once a year, the head of the village or town would line up all the single young men (age 20) and all the single young women (age 16) to pair off. People usually married on a trial basis. After a couple of years, the woman could return home to her parents if she wished.  A wife's job was to take care of the kids, the house, the animals, collect food and generally make herself useful.

Inca Army The Inca army was very well organized. Being in the military was a job, a specialized profession.  They marched in practice and into battle with colorful uniforms and drums, flutes and trumpets. Men were proud to be warriors. They practiced all the time. For weapons, they carried bows and spears and cords with three stones at one end. In some cases they used wooden clubs too. Their greatest weapon, they believed, was their belief that the gods were on their side.

Religion Inca worshipped many gods and goddesses (Polytheistic). They believed every mountain peak was either the home of a god. They prayed to their gods every day.  They believed in an afterlife. They mummified their dead. During some religious festivals, they carried around mummified bodies. Each June, the Incas held their most important festival - the festival of the Sun. This was the festival each year that saved the world and kept the sun happy.  On the fourth day, everyone in the empire would stretch out their arms to the sun and make kissing noises, to make sure the sun knew how grateful they were.

Inca Inventions/Creations a calendar they called time makers or time watchers. This calendar was tower. flute, drum, the famous Inca panpipe (a collection of hollow tubes of various lengths stuck together) terrace farming freeze dried foods woven colorful textiles Aqueducts (first in Americas) a central government (first in Americas) a unified language (first in Americas) a system of communication (the roadrunners)—like mail people. Very honorable profession, not everyone had an opportunity to do this job.

Test Your Knowledge Inca Empire was found in the Andes Mountains True False Some Inca Children began working as early as 3 years old! Inca farmers were part of which group in society? High Class Middle Class Low Class

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Test Your Knowledge Incas invented terrace farming. True False Which one of these foods did the Incas create? Bread Corn Potatoes Beans Inca women were restricted from returning home after a few year of marriage.

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Test Your Knowledge Inca believed their greatest weapon, in warfare, was their belief that the gods were on their side. True False Incas were a monotheistic society Which of the following did the Incas create? Flute Roadrunners Freeze/Dried Foods All the Above

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