The Americas600 - 1500

Ch 11 - The Earth and Its Peoples

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Mesoamerica

600 - 1450

• Olmec - collapsed by 100 C.E.

• 600 - 900 = classical era

• Maya

• people of Teotihuacan

• 900 - 1520’s = post classical era

• Toltecs 900 - 1100

• Aztecs

• capital city - Tenochtitlan

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Olmec

ToltecMaya

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The AmericasMesoamericaMayan city states 250 - 900Toltecs 900 - 1200Aztec Empire 1200’s - 1500’sTenochtitlanAndean South

AmericaInca Empire 1200’s - 1500’s

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MayaGovernment:

Each city-state had its own king.

Mayan calendarused by Aztec

stelae - memorial pillars for leaders or for special

ceremonies

Performed human sacrifices to appease their gods. Humans sacrificed were prisoners of war, defeated elites. Commoners used for the labor force.

Bloodletting pleased the gods, so sacrifice victims were often lacerated before being decapitated in order to produce more blood.

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Continuity and Change from classical to post-

classical era:Continuity:

All civilizations had similar religious beliefs and practices, architecture, urban planning and social organization.

Changes:

Population density increased, cities became larger = Toltec and Aztec.

Agriculture intensified in order to sustain the larger population.

Warfare intensified, becoming more frequent and involving more people as competition for land increased.

Centralized, stronger governments maintained larger armies.

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Teotihuacancity

population reached 200,000had much more extensive trade and many more professional merchants than Maya civilization.

Toltecscapital city = Tula

much larger military than earlier civilizationsTopiltzin = famous ruler, associated with the god Quetzalcoatl - legend says he was forced into exile but he promised to return some day - legend is picked up by the Aztec who anticipated his return. Why is this legend important?

Quetzalcoatl = “feathered serpent”

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Aztecs

Tenochtitlan = capital city

chinampas = floating gardens

population = 200, 000 to 400,000 people

Priests performed the ritual of human sacrifice.

The Aztecs developed a warrior culture. They were always conquering their neighbors.

Was this a good or bad idea? Why?

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Ruling aristocrats selected Aztec ruler who was

considered semi-divine.

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How else did they sustain the huge population of

Tenochtitlan?

•Tribute system = Imposed on conquered peoples, who contributed maize, beans and other foods to support Tenochtitlan.

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Aztec Government

semi-divine king = selected by election from among the male members of the ruling family

priests

king’s officials = earned positions through heroic military leadership and conquest

warriors = had proven themselves in battle by taking at least 4 prisoners for sacrifice

a military aristocracy formed the ruling group of the Aztec government.

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Aztec Government

One emperor who was treated as a god.

Montezuma II becomes emperor in 1502

Which ruler seemed to be

more powerful: Mayan or Aztec?

Why?Which government seemed to have been

more centralized Mayan or Aztec? Why?

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Inca Empire

Environment: Easier or harder than Aztec environment for

development?

Inca ruler:Considered a deity descended from he sun.Imposed one language - QuechuaControlled the economy - Inca socialismDemanded a labor tribute from all males - mita

What’s more important: the development of a writing or mathematic system? Why?

quipu

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Waru Waru Agriculture

Waru waru - an agricultural technique used in the Andes before the Incas.Combines raised beds and an irrigation system to prevent soil erosion. Adopted by the Incas.Hillside terracing.

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Inca Social Classes:

•Same as Aztec EXCEPT: no merchant class because “trade” was controlled by the government - known as “Inca socialism”

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Comparing and contrasting Aztec and Inca civilizations.

Decide if the evidence supports similarities or differences in the following categories:

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Aztecs and Incas:•Time and Place (E & E of EESPRITE)

•Geography - which was more isolated? What challenges did they both faith? How may have the geographic challenges impacted political developments?

• Political developments

• Religious beliefs. Include how did religious beliefs influence the government?

• Economic system -

• Social System -

• Reason for their collapse -