Download Inca Maya Aztec 2010-11 - Lake Chelan School District

Aztec and Incas
Beginning of Aztec Empire
The Aztecs were founded by the Mexica, early hunters and
warriors who came from the north into central Mexico
Beginning of Aztec Empire
 Legend
predicted the Mexicans
would found a great civilization
where they saw an eagle perched
on a cactus growing out of a rock
 Aztec civilization was created on
Lake Texcoco—strategic with
abundant food supplies &
waterways for transportation
Beginning of Aztec Empire

The capital,
Tenochtitlán,
was founded
in 1325 AD
and located
on the
present-day
site of Mexico
City
Mexican Flag
When captured by Spanish conquistadors
(Cortes) in 1521 , Tenochtitlán was possibly
the largest city in the world
Aztec Empire
 Farming
was the basis of the
Aztec economy, but land was
not large enough to produce
enough food for the
population; Aztecs created
chinampas (floating gardens),
by putting mud on huge mats
made of woven reeds &
placed them in lake—farmed
on soil on these “farms”
Corn, Beans, Tomatoes, Squash,
and Avocados
Aztec Empire- Government
 Aztec
were excellent warriors who
expanded their empire by conquering
their neighbors
 At the top was the Emperor
Aztec Empire- Social Hierarchy
Emperor,
 Nobility
 Commoners- Priests, Merchants, Artisans, Farmers
 Serfs- farmworkers
 Slaves- criminals, prisoners of war

Aztec Empire- Religion

Aztecs were the
“people of the sun”
who honored many
gods, especially sun
god; used human
sacrifices to keep
the gods happy—
victim’s heart was
removed & priest ate
flesh as sign of
respect

Son GodHuitzilopochtli
What does this image show?
Summary of Aztec Empire
Developed
Lacked

Centralized Government

Metal tools

Raised Armies

Large Work Animals

Conquered Empires

Working Wheel

360-day religious calendar

365-day solar calendar
Inca Empire
 The
Inca built one of the largest &
wealthiest
empires in the
world
 It began in the
mid-1400s & was
located on the
western coast of
South America
Inca Empire
Rise of the Inca
Began around 1200 AD, small tribes
competing for scarce fertile land
 Cuzco became the capital

Inca Expansion

AD 1438– Pachacuti and son Topa Inca Yupanqui
Inca Empire
 Incan
Empire extended more than
2,500 miles & included present-day
Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru,
Bolivia, & Argentina—
huge territory covered
deserts, mountains, &
rain forests
Inca
Empire
 Most
famous
city was
Machu
Picchu
Machu Picchu
Inca Government
Divine Ruler
 Permitted local rulers as long as they
were loyal
 Had complex system of tribute
collections, courts, military posts, trade
inspections, and local work regulations

Inca- Agriculture

Used terraced mountain-sides & irrigation
streams for farming- potatoes and quinoa
Inca- Religion
Viracocha-creator
Inti- sun god
Inca Empire
 Other Accomplishments of the Inca:
–Had no writing, but created
record system called
quipu (knots tied to
colored rope)
–Built suspension bridges
–Built 10,000 miles of roads
–Excellent goldsmiths
–Common language- Quechua
Inca Decline

Pizzarro 1530’s AD