1. Reading Quiz 1. Why was contact with the Toltec people important? 2. What did Aztecs do with cities they conquered? 3. What did the Aztec do w/ prisoners of War? 4. How many people lived in Tenochtitlan? 5. Chinampas- 6. T/F Tenochtitlan was largest city in world at the time.

2. The Splendor of ancient Mexico and Peru

3. Aztec AD 900 Toltecs come to power in central Mexico. The Aztecs (Mexicans) arrived about 1300 from the North. Obsidian- green/black volcanic glass- for spears/arrows Built city-state on small island in Lake Texcoco in Valley of Mexico

4. Aztec Throne

5. Aztec Tenochtitlan- 200,000-400,000 people, larger than any European city. Streets and canals led to the city center- pyramid dedicated to the sun god Chinampas- “floating garden”- very productive Empire covered 80,000 square miles and stretched from the Atlantic/Pacific- 5-15 million people

7. Aztec Ruler had absolute power. Nobles were military leaders, priests, gov’t officials. They had vast estates. Commoners were soldiers, merchants, farmers. Slaves were the lowest class. Aztec calendar based on Maya calendar- 18 months, 20 days each. Aztecs practiced human sacrifice. Sun god had to battle evil every night to bring the day back- required human blood. Thousands had their hearts cut out each year.

14. Tlaloc- Rain God

17. Inca

18. Inca means “Children of the Sun” The Inca empire stretched 2,500 miles over what is today Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. The capital was Cuzco, in Peru They built complex irrigation systems that channeled mountain streams to dry lowlands. Also terraced mountain sides.

19. The road system allowed the Inca to send messages across the Empire. Chasquis, or runners, were stationed every 3 miles to relay messages. 200 miles/day Sometimes Chasquis carried quipus – knotted strings that kept records and accounts. The Incan social system was called Ayllu- a form of community cooperation that did jobs too big for a single family

23. Inca demanded tribute from conquered peoples called mita- labor for the state. Everyone was required to work for the state a certain number of days per year. In return, the state cared for the old and disabled, and made sure people did not starve when there were bad harvests.- state socialism Incans built walls from carved stone blocks that fit together so well a piece of paper could not fit between them. They survive frequent earthquakes