The Americas: The Aztec & the Inca

Aztec background

Rise of the Aztecs

Aztec Religion

• Huitzilopochtli (right)

• human sacrifice-

Tenochtitlan

Aztec Economy

Aztec social classesThe Aztec society was divided into three socal classes:

1. the pilli or nobility*calpulli

2. the pochteca or merchants and traders

3. the macehualli (people) or peasantry

4. Slaves or tlacotin

Aztec Women

• Role of women

• Love and marriage (and marriage and marriage and marriage?!)

• Property rights

The Inca

Rise of Inca

• Quechua-speaking clans

• ayllus

• Sapa Inca

Incan Conquest & Religion

Incan government

Incan economy

• To trade or not to trade?

• Agrarian culture-terrace farming

• Mita

Incan Women

• Women’s duties

• Fertility goddess

• Parallel descent

Inca Technology

• roads and bridges,

• Quipu

• Metalworking

Questions?