1. Americas : On Eve of Invasion Chapter 11 pgs 234-254 Consider reading relevant info “Beyond Classical Civs” on pg. 104-105: starting w/¶ “Yet another portion of the world…” Aztecs Incas

2. Background  800-400 BCE : Olmec  Analogous to River Valley Civs, but built on corn  No writing, but religious inspired pyramids, calendars & art  400CE-800 : Teotihuacan  In Central Mexico, America’s 1 st great city  400CE-800 : Maya  In Yucatan Peninsula, important city-states (like Chichén Itzá) Postclassic Mesoamerica, to 1500

3. Toltec Heritage  1000 – 1150 CE  Empire in C. Mexico w/ military ethic & sacrifice  Influenced Aztecs as well as Maya & groups in North America Aztec Rise to Power Aztecs = militant & religious  Power drawn from military strength, connection to Toltec culture  Use marshy island to end wandering: Tenochtitlan

4. Aztec Social Contract  Expansion & conquest results in change  Aztecs: chosen to serve gods  Ritual human sacrifice grows

5. Religion & Ideology of Conquest  Polytheistic  Worship grouped into 3 cults  Gods of Fertility & Agriculture; Gods of Creation; Gods of Sacrifice & Warfare  Most important ritual = sacrifice  Human-Gods relationship  Additional complexity  Spiritual unity  Fatalistic view of world

6. QUESTION SLIDE  Compare & contrast the Aztec religion with Hinduism.

7. Feeding the People: The Economy  Required large, stable food source  Tribute from conquered lands  Traditional ag by peasants = chinampas  Social Structure  Clans = farming (some set aside)  Exceptions: Nobility, Merchants  Heavily state-controlled

8. Aztec Society in Transition Widening Social Gulf  Aztecs’ original social structure  Calpulli – clans organized the empire 1 of 2

9. Widening Social Gulf  Expansion: transforms classes  Clans weaken & class divisions emerge  Classes reinforced by uniforms & clothing 1. Nobility  Powerful administrators & powerful military leaders 2. Small middle group  Scribes, artisans, healers, merchants 3. Commoners  Worked estates like serfs at will of nobles 4. Slaves 2 of 2

10. Overcoming Tech Constraints  Women: have role but subordinate  Helped in fields & reared children  Cooked & prepared food  Lack of technology  Limited social development  Political-religious system based on intimidation

11. A Tribute Empire  Gov’t = collection of city-states 1. “Great Speaker” = ruler of Tenochtitlan  Acted as emperor 2. Prime Minister = chief advisor 3. Governing Council 4. “Speaker” 1 of 2

12. A Tribute Empire  Empire never fully integrated  Tribute concentrated power, but…  Local rulers given independence  Success = domination, not administration  Failure = division, fear, tribute 2 of 2

13. Background  - Geography of mtns dividing valleys made broad civilization difficult  1200-200BCE : Chavin & Moche (religious heritage)  Analogous to River Valley Civs, but built on potatoes  550CE-1000 : Huari & Tihuanaco  Establish highland ag in cultural hearth of Inca  900CE-1465 : Chimor (economic & artistic heritage) Twantinsuyu: the Incas

14. The Inca Rise to Power  1350 CE—clans of common language draw on tradition  Center empire around city = Cuzco  Pachacuti: emperor united group, began territorial expansion  “Twantinsuyu” or Inca Empire formed  Armies conquer vast & diverse areas

15. Conquest & Religion  Reason for expansion?  Split inheritance  Central to religion = cult of the Sun  Lesser local animistic deities  Served at temples by clans, priests, & women  Offerings & sacrifices given  Centers of festivals, rituals

16. Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule  Central authority, provincial bureaucracy & local autonomy  Integration of diversity based on reciprocity 1 of 2

17. Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule  Economic considerations  Communities aimed at self-sufficiency, supported by state control  Class considerations  Equal & interdependent genders?  Nobility & Priests vs. Yanas & Ayllus 2 of 2

18. Inca Cultural Achievements  Art  Record keeping  Infrastructure

19. QUESTION SLIDE  Compare and contrast the Incas and Aztecs?

20. How Many People?  Estimates for West Hemisphere vary  Historical context Other Peoples of the Americas

21. Differing Cultural Patterns  Ecological variety = development continuum  Chiefdom societies  Mixed societies (agriculture & hunting)  Hunter-gatherer societies  Commonalities

22. QUESTION SLIDE  In what ways do the Americas challenge our definition of civilization?

23. Global Connections World Context & Global Connections  Isolation from world system clearly mattered