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The Americas

The Americas. Aztecs and Incas (Chapter 11). Aztecs vs. Incas. Aztecs . Incas. Government not as well organized as Incan government Less centralized than Incas Lake/land rulers Maize was main crop Expansionists and highly militaristic

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The Americas

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  1. The Americas Aztecs and Incas (Chapter 11)

  2. Aztecs vs. Incas Aztecs Incas • Government not as well organized as Incan government • Less centralized than Incas • Lake/land rulers • Maize was main crop • Expansionists and highly militaristic • Trade and markets far more developed than in Incan society • Very well organized compared to Aztecs • Set up bureaucratic zones of control • Centralized more than Aztecs • Mountain-valley rulers • Main crop were potatoes • Trade and markets not as well developed at those in Aztec society

  3. Aztec and Incas- Map

  4. Social Class and Gender • Male dominated society; Priests very important in society • Warriors were prized (Mainly Aztec Society) • Slaves generally low on “totem pole” • Merchant class did not exist • Lacked nomadic herders unlike Europe, Asia, and Africa

  5. Social Class and Gender (Continued) • Some small, mobile kin-based groups of hunter-gatherers existed in Americas • From Tierra Del Fuego to Canadian forests • Recognized local ethnic groups/political leaders • Allowed variation, but must remain loyal and pay tribute • Social organization often remained without strong divisions

  6. Political • Theocracy- Ruled by religion • Culture represented success of military and imperial organization • State organization was an image of society • Nobles= Personnel of State • Tried to create overarching political state and integrate empire as a whole • Evident in Incas more than Aztecs • Incas had split inheritance • All titles and political power went to successor • Wealth and land remained with male descendants

  7. Interactions • Adapted well to varying environments • Ex. Aztecs built chinampas (“floating islands” and used for Aztec irrigation agriculture; Incas built dikes, dams, aqueducts, and terraced farming • Military power against nomadic peoples less effective • Civilization started from conquest of sedentary agriculture people • These people paid tribute and provided labor

  8. Cultural • Toltec culture lay foundation and provides establishment • Strongly militaristic and human sacrifices • Aztecs rely on Toltecs most • Olmec and Mayan cultures also lay foundation • Have gods/goddesses; Sacrifices • Ayllu and Calpulli transformed by social hierarchy • Were older kin-based institutions; Aztec clans

  9. Economic • Population of Americas estimated at 67,300 • *See chart on following slide* • Were conquerors • Agriculture widely spread by 1500 • Combined with hunting and fishing • Organized by state, which accumulated surplus, distributed to groups/social classes • Aztecs: Maize; Incas: Potatoes • Slash and burn farming led to movement of villages when production declined

  10. Population- The Americas

  11. Religion • Mainly Animistic • Sees gods in many aspects of nature and wins favor of them to help and control nature • Have several gods, such as Gods of: rain, fire, water, corn, sky, and sun • Yearly festivals to honor these gods • Held the Sun God to be most important

  12. Key Terms to Know • Tenochtitlan- capital city of Aztec empire • Montezuma I- became leader of Aztec empire once it was established • Montezuma II- last independent Aztec emperor; killed during Hernán Cortés’s conquest of Tenochtitlan

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