The+Americas

The Americas!


Aztecs Economic Social Political Interaction Religion Intellect Technology
 * City of Tenochtitlan was formed in 1325[[image:http://www.aztec-history.net/media/map-of-tenochtitlan.jpg width="400" height="237" align="right" caption="Tenochtitlan"]]
 * __**Chinampas**__- beds of aquatic weeds, mud and earth that were placed in frames made of crane and placed into the bottom of the lake, Formed very little islands, Provided water to all plants- More than 20,000 acres were created
 * Cacao (product that makes chocolate) Courtesy of Mr. Chan and gold dust were used as forms of currency
 * Pochteca- The merchant class who specialized in long distance trade
 * Distribution of goods were taken by authorities
 * After the fall of the Toltec Empire the Lake was dominated by people of mixed backgrounds
 * They were organized into city-states-Created shifting powers
 * conquered citizens were used for human sacrifice and they were acquired by the military
 * Mexica- Courtsey of Mr. Chan, Developed Clans
 * Calpulli- Clans of Aztecs that divided different functions to every member like distributing land, deciding heads of households, organizing labor groups, and creating militaires
 * Each individual was born into a social class ergo, no social mobility.
 * Calpulli was no longer active once nobles broke the chain; bought land and hired serf-like workers- low class and couldn't own land
 * __**Women were barely allowed out of the house**__, peasant-like- could work in the field, cooked, marriages arranged for them- able to inherit land and pass it on; spent 6 hours a day grinding corn for dinner
 * Aztecs spoke __**Nahatl**__- Same language as the Toltec
 * Aztecs defeated the Toltec Empire around 1150; Rose to power and formed an imperial state; People thought that the Aztecs were civilized and were exiled[[image:http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztecs/moctezuma.jpg width="203" height="200" align="right" caption="Moctezuma II"]] in the north; They knew how to farm and cultivate land; Others believe that the Aztecs were nomadic tribes that conquered the political anarchy once the Toltec Empire had fallen
 * Aztecs were disliked due to their intrusive military dominance- People wanted to side with them to become allies
 * Moctezuma II- became the most powerful king with civil power-Great Speaker; Elected by the nobility; Ruler of the Tenochtitlan; Had great power and much wealth
 * Prime minister- usually a close relative of the great speaker
 * Interacted with allies around the Tenochtitlan
 * Established dominance over those they ruled in the city-states
 * conquered lands to expand territory
 * captured people from other cities to practice human sacrifice
 * Aztecs were strict on their views of God; Offered human sacrifices;Made themselves feared by other tribes[[image:http://www.ancientmexico.biz/images/god-huitzilopochtli.jpg align="right" caption="Huitzilopochtli"]]
 * Had more than 128 major deities-Each deity was broken down into male and female forms; Each god was worshiped through festivals, dancing, feasting, and (my favorite) sacrificing
 * Tlaloc was the god of rain
 * Most Aztecs were centered around the theme of creation; Warfare and Sacrifice had became the cult of the state
 * **Huitzilopochtli** was the patron that became the figure of the cult; known as the old sun god; Thought to be a warrior in the daytime fighting in the skies; Thought that because the gods sacrificed themselves they must also offer human life in the form of blood and flesh
 * They had many religious questions; Were gods real? Was there and afterlife?
 * Powered Mills replaced animal or water powered objects

Summary: The Aztecs were a powerful tribe that started near the Gulf of Mexico. They established many traditions and created fear within their enemies because they were so violent and brutal. The Aztecs were very religious and even offered humans to their gods as gifts. Even though they questioned many of their views on religion, ultimately religion proved to be a major aspect of their lives.Once they conquered lands, they took the prisoners as slaves and forced them to work or sacrificed them. The chinampas had created a better form of agriculture which, in turn, provided a large source of food. Their arts consisted of human sacrifice and bloody images which related to their offering to their gods.

Incas Comparison **__The Incas wanted the conquered tribes to assimilate more to their culture more than the Aztecs would.__**

Economic [] Social Political
 * Inca Empire had a centralized system, recognized each ethnic group and placed them in an imperial state
 * Created an extensive agricultural system
 * Areas along Lake Titicaca were the centers of agriculture
 * Fused the old Andean cultures together
 * Cult of the dead
 * The living needed more rulers to be mummified in order to acquire more jobs and wealth
 * More rulers meant more royal courts
 * Demanded labor more than their demand for food government. Mr. Chan
 * Tambos(sp) rest stops? messenger.
 * In theory the genders were supposed to be equal.
 * Ayllus the Inca Clan, quechua.
 * Coastal kingdom of Chimor- Centered on the capital of Chan-Chan
 * Pachacuti (1438-1471) Rose to power and created a strong military alliance; Acquired areas from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca
 * Topac Yupanqui -Pachacuti's son- Conquered the northern kingdom of Chimor; seized the irrigation system; Spread power to present day Ecuador
 * Huayna Capac (1493-1527) Ended the resistance of the Araucanian Indians
 * Established a bureaucracy**,** All nobles played a key role, Local rulers could keep their power as long as they remained loyal to the Incas
 * __Curacas were exempt from paying taxes; Gained labor and produce__

Interactions Religion
 * Areas along the Andean zone near Lake Titicaca were the centers of agriculture
 * Temple of the Sun was Located in Cuzco; Center of the state religion;The sun god was the most important
 * The Incas themselves represented the sun god; In the temple the mummies of past rulers were kept to be protected by the gods; They were still allowed to worship other deities
 * Mountains, stones, rivers, caves, tombs, and temples were all considered to be holy shrines
 * Male priests and women worked in temples; Temple priests were responsible for celebrations and preparations for the gods

Intellectual
 * Rulers were mummified
 * Offerings were made to the God, resembling Greek traditions.

Technology
 * Quipu was a style of recording numerical and other types of information

Summary: Religion was a very important factor of everyday life. Human sacrifices were often made to please the gods. The people who were sacrificed were often those captured in battle or prisoners. Sometimes those people were forced to work as slaves. The Incas had a bureaucratic government. The economy of the Incas was agricultural based. The Incan Empire was the fusion of all the old Andean cultures. Many Incan rulers were focused on expanding territory while also pleasing the gods.

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