The Aztecs and Incas

The Aztecs and Incas Brenda Luchetti Debbie Bailey James Mayse Will Clarke And EDM

Aztec Empire • The Aztecs were a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries who built an extensive empire in the late Postclassical period of Mesoamerican chronology. Aztec civilization and society possessed a vibrant culture which included mandatory education and rich and complex mythological and religious traditions. For Europeans, the most striking element of the Aztec culture was the practice of human sacrifice which was conducted throughout Mesoamerica prior to the Spanish conquest.

Inca Empire • The Inca Empire was the largest empire in Pre-Columbian America, and one of the largest empires in the world at the time of its collapse. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cuzco. It arose from the highlands of Peru in 1197; from 1438 to 1533, the Incas used conquest and peaceful assimilation to incorporate a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean mountain ranges, including large parts of modern Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Conquest of the Aztec Empire • The nucleus of the Aztec Empire was the Valley of Mexico, where their capital Tenochtitlan was built upon raised islets in Lake Texcoco. After the 1521 conquest and fall of Tenochtitlan by Spanish forces and their allies which brought about the effective end of Aztec dominion, the Spanish founded the new settlement of Mexico City on the site of the now-ruined Aztec capital. The capital of the modern-day nation of Mexico, the greater metropolitan area of Mexico City now covers much of the Valley of Mexico and the now-drained Lake of Texcoco.

Conquest of the Aztec Empire • In what is probably the most widely known episode in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, Hernán Cortés (Cortez) conquered the Aztecs in 1521 thus immortalizing himself and the Aztec HueyiTlatoani, Moctezuma II (Montezuma II).

Conquest of the Inca Empire • In 1533, Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor (Sapa Inca) was killed on the orders of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, marking the beginning of Spanish rule. The Inca Empire was organized in “señoríos” (dominions) with a stratified society, in which the ruler was the Inca. It was also supported by an economy based on the collective property of the land. In fact, the Inca Empire was conceived like an ambitious and audacious civilizing project, based on a mythical thought, in which the harmony of the relationships between the human being, nature and Gods was truly essential

Click on the following links to learn more about the Aztec and Inca Gods, their similarities and differences! Aztec Gods http://www.windows2universe.org/mythology/aztec_culture.html Inca Gods http://www.windows2universe.org/mythology/inti_sun.html

Chart: Aztec and Incan Deities • What are the similarities?

Chart: Aztec and Incan Deities • What are the differences?

Transitions Write 3 sentences that you can use to transition from a similarity to a difference. • - • - • - Write 3 sentences that you can use to transition from a difference to a similarity • - • - • -

Questions 1.) Why do we still study the Aztec and Inca empires? 2.) Why is it important to know the differences and similarities between these two pre–Columbian empires? 3.) Why do you think that the Aztec and Inca empires have different Gods, although they are all based around nature? 4.) Broadening the context: Why do we study anything in the past? 5.) Broadening the context: Compare and contrast other ancient prehistoric empires to that of the Aztecs and Incans. 6.) Broadening the context: Compare and contrast other cultures in history that “share” similar deities.

Conquistadors: Fast Facts • Around the same time, both HernanCortez and Francisco Pizarro made their moves on the Aztecs and Incas, respectively, and both brought on their downfall. • Interestingly enough, Cortez was actually the second cousin of Francisco Pizarro. • Both Cortez and Pizarro used religion to their advantage, by justifying their action in the name of Christianity. • Both Conquistadors defeated newly founded totalitarian empires; in other words, the Aztecs and Incans had only recently dominated the area. • This most likely set the stage for a mentality of the oppressed (i.e. the natives were used to the idea of being under imperial native rule, and now were under imperial colonial rule- no big leap of governmental systems - so rebellions were easily kept to a minimum)

Added notes: Pizarro • Complete this Powerpoint on Pizarro, based on the lecture notes.

Added notes: Cortez • Complete this Powerpoint on Cortez, based on the PERSIA reading notes.

Final Notes • Based on the lecture, the readings, and the videoconference, what conclusions can be made in regard to Latin American history? Include 5 broad statements in your answer. • - • - • - • - • -

The Aztecs and Incas