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The Aztec and Inca Empires

Explore the Aztec and Inca Empires in Mexico, Central, and South America. Learn about their governance, religion, agriculture, and social structures. Discover the differences in their centralized governments and societal hierarchies. Gain insights into their religious practices, sacrifices, and artistic achievements. Compare the Aztec's Tenochtitlan with the Inca's Cuzco and delve into their unique cultural identities. Uncover their distinct labor systems and systems of tribute. Join a hypothetical conversation between an Aztec and an Inca, pondering alliances against Spanish conquistadors. Reflect on traditions like the Pow Wow, a spiritual gathering for Native Americans.

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The Aztec and Inca Empires

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  1. The Aztec and Inca Empires

  2. General Info • Aztecs = in Mexico and Central America • Incas = in South America • Both lacked: work animals, metal tools, wheels • Both still developed: centralized governments & armies and both conquered other empires • Both ended when: conquered by the Spanish

  3. Aztec Empire

  4. Inca Empire

  5. Aztec Empire • Capital = Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City) • Agricultural center and marketplace

  6. Aztec Empire • Built chinampas = artificial islands used for farming made by piling mud from the lake onto rafts  floating gardens • As population grew, Aztecs expanded outside of the city  built canals and bridges to connect the mainland to the island where the capital was

  7. The Empire • Stretched from Mexico to the border of Guatemala • Stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean • Conquered people had to pay tribute (taxes) in the form of: food, clothing, raw materials, prisoners for sacrifice, jewelry, military supplies, rubber balls, etc.

  8. The Empire • Aztec civilization organized as a hierarchy • At the top = the emperor • Classes = nobility, commoners, serfs, slaves • Land owned by: nobility and commoners • Commoners = priests, merchants, artisans, farmers • Serfs = farm workers tied to noble lands • Lowest class = slaves = prisoners of war; criminals; debtors – often sacrificed

  9. Religion & the Arts • Religion moved them to engage in war and sacrifice • Live human sacrifices were needed to keep the gods happy • Aztec artists decorated temple-pyramids with scenes of gods or battles • Writers glorified Aztec victories in their works Quetzalcoatl God of dying & resurrection

  10. The Inca Empire • Lived in the Andes Mountains in South America • Empire stretched about 2500 miles along the Andes • Capital = Cuzco

  11. The Inca Empire • Raided other tribes and slowly built a large empire • Strong central government  local rulers had to report to Inca emperor • Unlike the Aztec Empire, which had no centralized government or complex administration

  12. The Inca Empire • Emperor closely controlled the lives of common people • Owned all land and carefully regulated the growing & distribution of food • Farmers used step terraces on hillsides • Part of all crops after every harvest went to emperor as taxes

  13. The Inca Empire • Work crews built roads & bridges to link different regions of the empire • Gods pleased with food, animal, and human sacrifices • Not even close to the scale of the Aztecs • No writing system  used quipus to record information = ropes with knotted cords of different lengths

  14. The Inca Empire • Mita = labor service used • Required periodically of every household • Required to work for the state • Examples: farming, herding, mining, crafting manufactured goods, construction • In return: state provided elaborate feasts for the people

  15. “Gender Parallelism” • Both the Aztec and Inca Empires used this system with men and women • Separate spheres and responsibilities, but each one equally valuable • Each had autonomy in its own sphere • Did NOT mean total gender equality

  16. What would a conversation between an Aztec and Inca sound like? • Nahuatl or Quechua? • Highlands or lowlands? • Peaceful or aggressive? • Respectful or disrespectful? • What would have happened if the allied agaainst the Spanish (conquistadors)conquerors)?

  17. Pow Wow • a spiritual gathering • For native Americans

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