Aztecs & Inca

The Aztecs After the decline of the Mayans, the Aztecs were developing in present-day Mexico Around 1200, Aztecs arrived in Mexico & built their city Tenochtitlan in 1325 compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas

The Aztec began c. 12th century A.D. Aztec civilization • Located in arid valley in central Mexico • Represented by Tenochtitlan • Ruled by an emperor • Economy based on agriculture and tribute from conquered peoples • Polytheistic religion with pyramids/rituals The Aztec began c. 12th century A.D. Began a long migration that brought them into the Valley of Mexico. They established their capital city at Tenochtitlán. Tenochtitlán An Aztec legend said that when the people found their new home they would see an eagle perched on a cactus holding a snake. They saw this in lake Texcoco. Their city was built up on rafts made from reeds and covered with dirt. They were called chinampas. Present-Day Mexico-City is built on top of this city. The original was destroyed by the Spanish. Lake Texcoco-Swampy lake that was the home of the capital city. Tenochtitlán means the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus.

Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan

Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility (3) Commoners The Aztecs Government: The Aztecs formed a massive empire, controlled it through 38 provinces, & received tribute from conquered peoples Economy: They survived on tribute & farming; They built “floating gardens” (chinampas) Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility (3) Commoners (4) Slaves compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas Religion: Aztecs worshipped many gods, especially the sun god & made thousands of human sacrifices each year

Political and Social Structure By 1500 there were about 4 million people in the Aztec Empire. Aztec Emperor Ruled over the Aztec Empire. Was the supreme leader of the people. He claimed that he was divine. People Made up of commoners, indentured workers, and slaves. Most people were farmers, but they also traded with people in the surrounding areas. Men were to be the warriors, while a woman’s role was to be in the home. Women were allowed to own and inherit property and enter contracts. Women wove textiles and raised children. They could also be priestesses.

Religion Had a polytheistic religion based on warfare. Huitzilopochtli Their chief god. He was the god of the sun. The Aztec offered him human sacrifice to give him strength to battle the forces of darkness each night so that he could rise each morning. Quetzalcoatl The feathered Serpent He believed he had left the valley of Mexico and promised to return in triumph. Human Sacrifice Each Aztec city contained a pyramid where they practiced human sacrifice as a way to postpone the end of the world.

Technology: Like the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an accurate calendar & built advanced temples

Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility (3) Commoners The Aztecs Government: The Aztecs formed a massive empire, controlled it through 38 provinces, & received tribute from conquered peoples While the Mayans were thriving, the Aztecs were developing in present-day Mexico Economy: They survived on tribute & farming; They built “floating gardens” (chinampas) Around 1200, Aztecs arrived in Mexico & built their city Tenochtitlan in 1325 Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility (3) Commoners (4) Slaves compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas Technology: Like the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an accurate calendar & built advanced temples Religion: Aztecs worshipped many gods, especially the sun god & made thousands of human sacrifices each year

The Aztecs But, the true demise of the Aztecs came when the Spanish discovered America & conquered the Aztecs Around 1500 A.D., the Aztecs began to decline; A century of brutal rule over the provinces & millions of human sacrifices led to revolts

The Incas While the Aztecs ruled Mexico, the Incas began to dominate the area of the Andes Mountains of South America Many Incan cities like Machu Picchu & Cuzcu were built in the mountains compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas

The Incas Religion: The Inca were polytheistic & offered llamas & food (but not humans) to the gods Government: Like the Aztecs, the Incas built a vast empire which included 80 provinces ? But, the Incas ruled with tolerance & unified their empire with roads, schools, & a common language Economy: The Incan gov’t controlled the economy & required all citizens to farm for the good of the empire Society: (1) King Nobility Ayllu (commoners)

Technology: Inca innovations included quipu, a means of record keeping involving knotted ropes as well as an extensive system of roads & suspension bridges

Were required to marry from within their own social group. Culture Were required to marry from within their own social group. Women were expected to live at home, the only alternative was to be a priestess. Most people were farmers, they also herded llamas and alpacas. Quipu-A system of knotted strings used by the Inca to keep records.

Great Builders They had great buildings made of stone held without mortar. Their roads also show their ability as great builders. Machu Picchu City built at 8,000 ft above sea level. Urubamba River River below Machu Picchu

The Incas Government: Like the Aztecs, the Incas built a vast empire which included 80 provinces; But, the Incas ruled with tolerance & unified their empire with roads, schools, & a common language ? Technology: Inca innovations included quipu, a means of record keeping involving knotted ropes as well as an extensive system of roads & suspension bridges Economy: The Incan gov’t controlled the economy & required all citizens to farm for the good of the empire Religion: The Inca were polytheistic & offered llamas & food (but not humans) to the gods Society: (1) King Nobility Ayllu (commoners)

The Incas In the 1520s, a civil war divided & weakened the Incan Empire; Ten years later Spanish conquistadors conquered the empire ?

Defeat The Spanish arrived in 1531 1531: Francisco Pizarro Spanish Conquistador led a band of 180 men with superior weapons. The Inca, like the Aztec, were devastated by disease. Smallpox Devastated the Population Civil War After the death of the Inca Emperor a civil war broke out, Pizarro took advantage and defeated the people. Pizarro and his men established Lima as the new capital of the Spanish Colony in 1535.

Achievements of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations • Calendars • Mathematics • Writing and other record-keeping systems

Closure Activity: Which American Society? Can you distinguish among the early societies of America? Examine the descriptions in your notes Complete the chart below C&C! AZTEC INCA