The Americas on the Eve of Invasion WHAP 2019 The Americas on the Eve of Invasion

World Population, c. 1500

The Toltec Heritage Rule extended to Yucatan Commercial influence to American Southwest Possibly Mississippi, Ohio valleys Central Mexico and Lake Texcoco

The Aztec Rise to Power Toltec collapse, c. 1150 Caused by northern nomads? Aztecs move to Mexico valley Lakes used for fishing, farming, transportation City States, common language, and state marriages. Great fighters and were hired as mercenaries, allies Tenochtitlan founded in 1325 by Aztecs. Aztecs practiced human sacrifice.

The Aztec Social Contract Transformation to hierarchical society Service of gods pre-eminent Sacrifice increased Source of political power Moctezuma II Head of state and religion

Religion and the Ideology of Conquest Huitzilopochtli Spiritual and natural world seamless Hundreds of deities Three groups Fertility, agriculture, water Creator gods Warfare, sacrifice e.g. Huitzilopochtli Aztec tribal god Identified with sun god Sacrifice Motivated by religion or terror? Cyclical view of history, Dynastic Cycle Quetzalcoatl

Feeding the People: The Economy of the Empire Chinampas Agriculture Chinampas, man-made floating islands High yield Farming organized by clans Markets Daily market at Tlatelolco Controlled by pochteca, merchant class Regulated by state Daily market at Tlatelolco

Widening Social Gulf Calpulli Transformed from clans to groupings by residence Distribute land, labor Maintain temples, schools Basis of military organization Noble class develops from some calpulli Military virtues give them status Serf-like workers on their lands Social gaps widen Imperial family at head of pipiltin Calpulli of merchants Montezuma II

Overcoming Technological Constraints Tenochtitlan Women have various roles Can own property No public roles Elite polygamy Most monogamous

The Inca Rise to Power Cuzco area Quechua-speaking clans (ayllus) Huari Control regions by 1438, under Pachacuti Topac Yupanqui Son of Pachacuti Conquered Chimor Rule extended to Ecuador, Chile Huayna Capac Furthers conquests of Topac Yupanqui 1527, death

Inca Cultural Achievements Metallurgy Knotted strings (quipu) Accounting Monumental architecture

Comparing Incas and Aztecs Similarities Built on earlier empires Excellent organizers Intensive agriculture under state control Redistributive economy Kinship transformed to hierarchy Ethnic groups allowed to survive Differences Aztecs have better developed trade, markets

Larger densities in Mesoamerica, Andes A. How Many People? Larger densities in Mesoamerica, Andes B. Differing Cultural Patterns Caribbean islands Some similar to Polynesian societies c. 1500 200 languages in North America Mississipian mounds abandoned Anasazi descendants along Rio Grande C. American Indian Diversity in World Context Two great imperial systems by 1500 Mesoamerica and the Andes Technologically behind Europeans World Population, c. 1500