Download Aztec Spy Notes - World History Reiff 2

Aztec Spy Notes
Background
War, Tribute and Trade
War was a key factor and the
Aztec’s rise of power. The
Fierce Aztec Warriors
Concorde many towns.
The Aztecs sometimes made
Alliances or partnerships
To build their empire.
Decline
Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was the Aztecs
capital city to build this amazing
city they had to overcome many
geographical challenges.
Their trade was difficult because
of their location but they built
3 wide causeways like tunnels
To travel underground.
Cortes Conquers the Aztecs
In the late 1400’s Spanish explorers
and soldiers arrived in Americas.
They came to explore new lands
and for gold.
Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs
Alliances and in the religion helped
Spanish forces, and they had better
weapons and they had an
advantage.
.
Kings and Nobles
The king was the most important
person in the Aztec society he
lived in a great palace and had
Gardens and zoos. he was in
charge of law, trade, tribute, and
warfare
Aztec Society
Priests and Warriors
Below the kings and nobles
Are the priest and warriors.
Priest preformed many important
Duties such as keeping calendars.
And the warriors fought to conquer
Other people and capture victims
For sacrifice.
Nobles served as important officials
such as tax collectors and judges
Merchants and Artisans
Aztec merchants traded goods like food clothing and
tools. And skilled artisans made wide variety of goods
that people needed.
Aztec Religion
The Aztecs believed gods ruled all
parts of life, the god’s power could
be seen in nature, such as in trees
or storms and in great people such
as kings and ancestors.
Farmers and Slaves
Most Aztecs were farmers who lived in simple huts.
And slaves were prisoners of war they were forced to
work or they would be sacrifice.
Scientific Achievements
The Aztecs made several advances
in science. Many of these they
accomplished by building on the
achievements of the peoples they
conquered
Artistic Traditions
The Aztecs had a rich artistic
tradition that included architecture
sculpture and jewelry.
Writing and Literature
The Aztecs had a complex writing
system. They kept written historical
records in books made on separate
pages.
Inca Spy Notes
Rise of the Incas
The Aztecs arose in
Mesoamerica in which
now is Called Mexico
Central Government and Language
Economy
The Ica government also controlled the economy instead
of paying taxes
Incas had to pay their government in labor
Decline
Pizarro Conquers the Incas
Central Government and Language
 The Incas didn’t want the people they conquered
to have too much power
 So they made the leaders of conquered areas
move out of their villages
 The Incas knew that to control their empire they
had to communicate with the people
 Although the Inca had no written language, they
kept records with cords called quipius
 A civil war began in the Inca empire around
1530
 After the Inca ruler died his two sons took over
Spanish Control
To win his freedom Atahualpa asked his people to fill a
room with gold and silver for Pizarro.
Daily life for the Upper Class
The king priest and government officials made VP the
Inca upper class while most noble men worked for the
government. Women from noble families had house hold
duties such as, cooling and making clothes.
Daily Life for the Lower Class
Most Incas were farmers and artisans or servants. There
were no slaves in Inca society. Lower class men and
women farmed on government lands, served in army,
worked in minds, and built roads.
Religion
The Inca empire had an official religion. When the Incas conquered new territories they taught this religion to the
conquered people. But people could still worship their own gods, too. The sun was important to the Inca god. As the
sun set earlier each day in the winter, at Machu Picchu priests performed a ceremony to tie down the sun and keep it
from disappearing completely. They also believed that the kings were related to the sun god.
Building
The Incas are known for their
massive buildings and forts made of
huge stone blocks.
Art
The Incas produced work of art as
well. Artisans made gold and silver
jewelry and offerings to the gods.
Oral Literature
While archeologists have found
many Inca artifacts there are no
written records about the empire
produced before the Spanish
conquered.
Final Conclusions: Which Empire do you think was the strongest and most impressive? Justify your answer.