The Americas: The Aztec & the Inca Mr. Osburn AP World History

The Aztecs

Rise of the Aztecs Aztecs (Mexica) migrate to Lake Texcoco in central Mexico c Founded city of Tenochtitlan in 1325 Empire started in 1434 Aztec kings represented civil power and served as a representative of the gods on Earth

Aztec Government City-states ruled by a speaker chosen from the nobility The Great Speaker, ruler of Tenochtitlan, was in effect an emperor Increasingly considered a living god Conquered peoples maintained some autonomy if they paid tribute

Aztec Religion Aztec maintained traditional deities of Mesoamerica 128 major deities Huitzilopochtli (right) was the Aztec tribal patron and patron deity of the cult of warfare and sacrifice

Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice was a typical part of Mesoamerican religion Aztec expand practice into a cult where military supplied war captives for sacrifice

Human Sacrifice

Tenochtitlan On an island in Lake Texcoco Aztecs called it the “foundation of Heaven” By 1519 had a population of 150,000 Connected by causeways and canals

Tenochtitlan “The Venice of the Americas

Aztec Economy Agriculture Food often provided as tribute Built chinampas Pochteca was a special merchant class which specialized in long-distance luxury trade Cacao beans and gold dust were used as currency; bartering was most common

Chinampas Chinampas were man-made floating islands 17’ long x 100’ to 300’ feet wide. Aztecs built over 20,000 acres of chinampas.

Chinampas

Aztec Society Originally divided into seven clans called calpulli Calpulli redistributed land, organized labor gangs & military units, maintained temples & schools Eventually a class of nobility emerged Nobility controlled the priesthood & military

Aztec Society Women’s primary role was the household Women spent six hours a day grinding corn; restricted women’s rights Marriages were arranged Polygamy existed amongst the nobility Women could inherit property

The Inca

Rise of Inca Founded by Quechua- speaking clans, ayllus, living near Cuzco c Inca (ruler) Pachacuti expanded the empire from Built Machu Picchu Expansion continued after Pachacuti’s death

Machu Picchu

Conquest & Religion Expansion motivated by split inheritance Polytheistic Sun God was the primary god Influenced by animism Mountains, rivers, etc. were considered holy shrines Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu

Inca Government Divided empire into four provinces Developed a bureaucracy run by nobles Nobility drawn from the ten ayllus Local rulers maintained their positions Colonized conquered areas Relocated some conquered peoples

Inca Economy Unlike Aztecs, not a lot of trade Tried to be self-sufficient Primarily agricultural Terrace farming & complex irrigation Over 200 types of potatoes Used forced labor for massive projects Mita

Terrace Farming

Inca Society Inca emphasis on military reinforced gender inequality Women worked in the fields, wove cloth, and cared for the household Women worshipped fertility deities Recognize parallel descent Women passed rights and property to their daughters

Inca Technology Built a complex system of roads and bridges 2500 miles of roads Used a system of runners to carry messages throughout the empire Beautiful pottery, cloth, and metalworking Quipu Masonry

Bridges and Roads

Quipu

Inca Metalworking