Download Aztec and Inca Student Handout

History
Detectives
An Informational Text Activity
CCSS Aligned
Aztecs
Versus
Incas
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The Aztecs
By Wise Guys
Introduction
As the Spanish Empire began to grow in the 15th and 16th Centuries, a powerful
people were emerging across the Atlantic Ocean. These people were known
as the Aztecs.
The Area
The Aztecs lived on the continent of North America in what is now the presentday country of Mexico. They lived in the valley of Mexico, with their main city
being Tenochtitlan. The city was on an island surrounded by Lake Texcoco. It
was the perfect place to build a great city for the people.
The People
About 200,000 people lived in Tenochtitlan, but there
were over eleven million people included in the Aztec
Empire. There were three main classes of people:
peasants, merchants/artisans, and nobility. The peasants
were often slaves who were captured by the Aztec and
then assimilated into their culture and were mainly
farmers. They helped to build the floating gardens, or
chinampas, around the capitol city. The merchants and
artisans were the shopkeepers and builders of the Aztec
culture. Many were the king’s architects and engineers.
The nobility class, or ruling class, consisted of the
landowners, local clan leaders, district leaders, judges,
public tax officials, military captains, priests, and advisers
to the king. This group of people had much of the wealth.
The Empire
Around 1200 A.D. the Tenocha people moved into the valley of Mexico and
created a civilization on the island surrounded by Lake Texcoco. From this
island, they created the great city of Tenochtitlan. They expanded their lands
to include what is most of central Mexico today. They would conquer
neighboring tribes and force many of the captives into slavery and would
make them submit to the king. The empire flourished for over 300 years before
its collapse in 1521.
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The Issues
The ruler, Moctezuma II, believed that the new Spanish arrivals to his lands were
sent from god. He had his people rush them disks of gold and silver as
welcoming presents. That was all it took for the Spanish conquistadors to realize
that there had to be more riches farther inland. Because the Aztec had an
empire, many neighboring tribes were enemies. Hernando Cortes, the leader of
the Spanish forces, elicited the help of these tribes as guides and warriors to
help him overtake the Aztec. Hernando Cortes led his men all the way to the
capital city where they were welcomed in to its confines, and then eventually
able to take the city hostage. It was not long before the Spanish had taken
control of the city, and then the entire Aztec empire.
The End of an Empire
The Spaniards had three weapons that were insurmountable: metal, horses,
and disease. The conquistadors were equipped with metal armor and swords,
and even old-fashioned firearms. By contrast, the Aztec warriors had wooden
clubs and spears that were no match for the superior metal. Horses were also a
key advantage which helped the conquistadors battle much swifter and
effectively from a higher position. The third weapon the conquistadors had,
which was the most deadly, was disease. The Spaniards were carriers of many
diseases that were concealed to European countries. When they came to the
Americas, there were no defenses against small pox and other infectious
diseases. The Aztecs were decimated by this, and much of their population was
wiped out due to disease.
Conclusion
The Aztec Empire thrived in the Valley of Mexico until the encounter with the
Spanish conquistadors. They were a powerful people who were able to build a
strong empire, only to have the intruders wipe out their civilization and culture in
a few short years.
Copyright © Wise Guys 2016
The Incas
By Wise Guys
Introduction
Nestled in the Andes Mountains of present-day South America, a civilization
was thriving and expanding their civilization. But one encounter with people
foreign to their land would change their way of life forever.
The Area
The Incas lived on the continent of South America, in what are now the
countries of present-day Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador. They lived
in the Andes Mountain region, with their main city being Cuzco. The city was
nestled in a valley next to the Andes Mountains in present-day Peru. It would be
the home to the center of the Inca Empire.
The People
There were over twelve million people included in the Inca
Empire. Many of these people were conquered tribes that
assimilated into the Inca culture. According to Inca law,
everyone was entitled to food, clothing, and shelter as long as
they worked the land on a daily basis. Many peasants were
farmers who grew food on terraces, which were farmlands
built on steep mountainsides. The ruling class consisted of
the wealthy landowners, the king and his family, and the
priests. Food was provided for them by the lower classes.
The Empire
Around 1100 A.D. the Inca family settled in Cuzco. This city became the capitol
city of the eventual empire that they would build. They expanded their lands to
include what is most of western South America today. They would conquer
neighboring tribes and force many of the captives into slavery and would
make them submit to the king. Instead of killing the males of these conquered
tribes, the Inca would turn them into workers to help with farming and building.
The Inca constructed over 10,000 miles of roads that connected their lands. The
empire flourished for over 300 years before its collapse in 1533.
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The Issues
Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, came to South America looking for
gold. They landed on the Pacific coast in 1532. The Inca ruler, Atahualpa,
agreed to meet with the Spaniards when word spread to him in Cajamarca, a
large Inca city. Pizarro, and 180 of his men, surprised Atahualpa by attacking
and killing 1,500 of his people. The Inca leader was then taken prisoner.
Atahualpa informed the Spaniards that he would order his people to bring in
gold from his empire in exchange for his release. As gold began pouring in, the
greed of the Spanish soldiers became evident. Pizarro and his troops murdered
Atahualpa, marched to Cuzco and overthrew the Inca Empire.
The End of an Empire
The Spaniards had three weapons that were insurmountable: steel, horses, and
disease. The conquistadors were equipped with metal armor and swords, and
even old-fashioned firearms. By contrast, the Inca warriors had wooden clubs,
bows, and spears that were no match for the superior steel. Horses were also a
key advantage which helped the conquistadors battle much swifter and
effectively from a higher position. The third weapon the conquistadors had,
which was the most deadly, was disease. The Spaniards were carriers of many
diseases including small pox, influenza, and other infectious diseases. Most of
their population was wiped out due to disease.
Conclusion
The Inca Empire controlled much of the west coast of present-day South
America until the encounter with the Spanish conquistadors. For an empire that
took over three hundred years to build, it ended in few short years.
Copyright © Wise Guys 2016