The Aztecs and the Mayans

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Location•The Aztecs and the Mayans lived in what is often

called Mesoamerica. 

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Aztecs | The Beginning

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Mayans| The Beginning

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Teotihuacan“Beginning of Time”

Society•Both the civilizations were divided into 4 classes.

Aztecs

Mayans

Emperor

Rulers

Nobles & Priests

Slaves

Merchants,

craftsmen, &

peasants

Nobles & priests

Freemen, craftsmen, & farmers

Slaves

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Belief System•Both the Aztec and Mayans were polytheists,

• Sun god, called Huitzilopochtli (Aztec), he was also the god of war. There were many gods (the Mayans even had a god of tattoos)!

•Both of the civilizations used human sacrifice, they thought it makes the god happy. • War prisoners were killed, the Aztecs killed them by having their hearts cut

out. Tlaloc, the god of rain (Aztec), when there was a drought, the Aztecs sacrificed babies hoping it would rain.

• Before each sacrifice, the Mayan prisoners were forced to play Pok-A-Tok. In this game, you had to bounce a rubber ball using only your elbows and knees. After playing this, they were then sacrificed.

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The End

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Both civilizations wiped out by Spanish conquest (More died of disease than combat)

The INca

Empire

Background

Empire extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from northern border of modern Ecuador to Maule River in central Chile

Official language: Quecha

Polytheistic

rituals included sacrifice of humans and animals

Inti- Sun God

Important Positions Local governors responsible for exacting labor

tax which could be paid by service in army, on public works, or in agricultural work

Coya carried out important religious duties and governed when Sapa Inca absent

Nobles ruled Inca conquered provinces w/ chieftains

Political Philosophy

Officials collected taxes, enforced laws, kept records on a quipi (collection of knotted colored strings) which noted dates, events, population, crops

Roads All land belonged to Inca, crops allotted to specific groups,

government took possession of each harvest Private property forbidden, crime nonexistent, citizens

never starved Oral Tradition

Economic Developments

constructed aquaducts, cities, temples, fortresses, short rock tunnels, suspension bridges, 2250mi road system

metal works of alloy, copper, tin, bronze, silver gold developed important medical practices- surgery on human

skull, anesthesia resources-corn, potatoes, coffee, grain created woven baskets, woodwinds

Military Expansion Attacked, looted villages of neighboring peoples,

assessing tribute

Conquered people of Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru

Gained territory south to the Titicaca Basin, north to present-day Quito and conquered its people

Cultural Conflict & Cooperation

Spaniards superior military technology horses, muskets, cannons, metal

helmets, armor, steel swords and lances Incan Bronze Age weapons

llamas, clubs, sticks, wooden spears and arrows