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

2. The Aztecs

3. Rise of the Aztecs Aztecs (Mexica) migrate to Lake Texcoco in central Mexico c. 1325 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Human Sacrifice

8. 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

9. Tenochtitlan “The Venice of the Americas

10. 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

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

12. Chinampas

13. 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

14. 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

15. The Inca

16. Rise of Inca Founded by Quechua- speaking clans, ayllus, living near Cuzco c. 1350 Inca (ruler) Pachacuti expanded the empire from 1438-1471 Built Machu Picchu Expansion continued after Pachacuti’s death

17. Machu Picchu

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Terrace Farming

23. 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

24. 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

25. Bridges and Roads

26. Quipu

27. Inca Metalworking