1. The Americas on the Eve of Invasion

2. I. Post Classical Mesoamerica
The Old Days- Toltecs
Nomadic Toltecs from north established Tula, Central Mexico, 968
Military society mixed with culture of sedentary/farming people
Toltec legend Quetzalcoatl
Vast empire into N. America
Collapsed 1150

3. Aztec rise to Power
Various city-states organized around Lake Texcoco after fall of Toltecs
Political foundation
military
shared culture in Toltec language
Established own powerful city-state at Tenochtitlan 1325; gained power, land from tribute & sacrifice

4. Height of Aztec Empire

5. Religion & Ideology of Conquest
Conquered peoples forced to pay tribute, lands, military service
Spiritual & Natural World the same
polytheistic
Huitzilopochtli- god of war, tribal god of Aztecs
Sacrifice for religious and political purposes

6. Tenochtitlan
Capital City, set on island of lake Texcoco with central zone of palaces
City divided into wards controlled by calpulli:
Calpulli
organized wards tributes, temples, community bureaucracy, land
Tenochtitlan leading city state of 50 surrounding Texcoco

7. Tribute Empire Speaker rules city state; Great Speaker of Tenochtitlan
Prime Minister chosen from relatives
When Aztec conquered a new territory:
Local rulers stayed in place, coordinated tribute, labor to Aztecs, little direct political administration
Empire collapsed under increase of nobility, terror, tribute demands

8. Aztec Economy Agriculture!!! Developed chinampas
Calpulli portioned lands
Markets held in community periodically; large market controlled by pochteca, long distance travelers
Gov’t controlled use & distribution of tribute; food, slaves, victims

9. Transition of Aztec Society
Social Classes
Emerging Nobility from original Calpulli controlled everything (religion, military, gov’t, private lands)
Serfs as workers for Nobility
Scribes, Artisans, Healers own Class

10. Overcoming Technology
No animals of burden
Women provided significant economic roles; allowed greatest degree of freedom
Despite limited technology, supported 20 million people

11. Twantinsuyu: World of Inca
Rise of Inca
Time of war between chieftains of small states (not quite city-states, though)
Chimor state controlled much of Andean coast
Quichua speaking ayllus (clans) conquered hostile neighbors in 1438 under Pachacuti
The Inca consolidated power from Colombia to Chile
Capital Cuzco

12. Conquest & Religion Split Inheritance
Political power passed down to the next king
LAND and wealth passed to children who used it to support his mummy
created need for constant expansion
Sun God highest deity, Temple of Cuzco center of state religion, held past Incas
Profound animism
Priests & Women served the temples, coordinated celebrations

13. Inca Rule Inca, leader considered to be god Governors for 4 provinces
Nobles led state bureaucracies
When a new region was conquered
Local rulers (curacas) allowed to maintain position and received privileges
relocation of people (tambos)
People had access to new goods, irrigation, etc from the inca
TRIBUTE demanded
mita reqirements- communities took turns working on projects

14. Social
Society focused on military virtue, developed inequality of men and women, equality in worship
Women could serve in temples
Treated like servants otherwise

15. Cultural Accomplishments
No wheel, no writing
Llama domestication
Terrace farming
Metalwork
13000 miles of roads
Quipu: knotted strings for record keeping
Monumental architecture- Machu Picchu
Extensive infrastructure

16. Comparison Differences
Similarities
Differences
Built on earlier empires
Intensive state agriculture
Redistributive economy
Kinship/family based hierarchy
Ind. Ethnic groups allowed to survive
Aztec developed market system; Inca redistribution
Writing System