1. Aztecs and Incas Toltec Empire Collapsed of the Toltec Empire
1,000 BCE
1150
1325
1350
1471 – 1493
Toltec Empire
Collapsed of the Toltec Empire
Aztecs established in Mexico “Tenochtitlan”
Incas Cuzco Area
* Inca’s Empire expanded under Pachacuti
Moctezuma I
Topac Yupanqui expanded/increased area
Huayna Capac expanded into Ecuador

2. Aztec civilization Located in arid valley in central Mexico
Represented by Tenochtitlan
Ruled by an emperor –”Nezhualcoyotl”
Economy based on agriculture—sedentary people
Polytheistic religion, based on warfare—Pyramids

3. Aztec Social Stratification /Social Gulf
Local life based on “capulli” or clans (7 clans that “founded” the Aztec)
Capulli governed by councils of family heads
Functions of capulli:
1. distribute land
2. organize labor
3. military unit
4. maintain
schools/temples

4. Tributes had Economic and Political Functions
Political structure
The emperor
Prime Minister
Governing Council
Governing: A tribute Empire—city state that recognized the Aztec supremacy were left alone to pay tribute.
Tributes had Economic and Political Functions
Provided food/land & trade items for the calpulli
City-state recognized whose in charge and prevented attacks; political dominance but not administratively

5. Economic Organization
Agricultural based “maize based economy”
-creation of “chinampas”
2. Conquered area allowed to maintain their economy for tribute; sometimes land were redistributed.
3. Merchant class “pochteca” specialized in distant trading: cocao beans, gold, birds, turquoise, cotton, etc.

6. Incan civilization Located in the Andes Mountains of South America
Represented by Machu Picchu
Ruled by an emperor “Pachacuti” ( )
-Cuzco
Economy based on high-altitude agriculture
Polytheistic religion
Road system

7. Inca Social system “Inca Socialism”
Empire controlled by Inca “emperor/ruler”
Nobilities were determined by the 10 royal ayllus (residents = nobles)
Small communities-self sufficiency
Society was neither patriarchal nor matriarchal; gender specific jobs but were seen as equal.
Culture focused on cooperation between men and women
Inequality = military service

8. Inca’s Political system
Complex Bureaucratic System
Empire dived into 4 provinces headed by a governor
Divided again into offices for adminstration
Local levels: local rulers/headmen (“curacas”)
System of “Reciprocity and Hierarchy”
State control region; build roads/irrigation Incas rule
Locals “reciprocate” by providing labor/loyalty

9. Polytheistic Religion Aztecs & Inca (Lots of gods similar to India’s)
1. God of creation “Viracocha”
2. Sun god “Inti”
3. Goddess of the moon “Mama Quilla”
4. God of the earth “Pachamac”
5. God of death “Supai”
Aztec
God of fertility “Tlaloc”
God of creation “Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl”
God of war “Huitzilopochtil” (the Sun GOD)
Offering made to appease the Gods; Animals/people sacrificed

10. Comparative Imperial and military organization
Agricultural organization & state redistribution of goods
Kinship based institution: Ayllu (Inca); Calpulli (Aztec)
Nobles = personnel of the state
Allowed local leaders to rule/display loyalty
Both ineffective against nomadic tribes; focused on conquest of sedentary people
Beliefs & social structure
Differences:
economic/trade –more prevalent in Aztec; Inca greater metallurgical skills
Writing system
Social definition

11. Cities in Meso-America
Teotihuacan Culhuacan Texcoco Tenochtitlan Tlacopan

12. Cities in Inca Empire
Cuzco Chan Chan Tihuanaco Chichen Itza Cajamarca