Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
The city and the archaeological site are located approximately 25 miles northeast of Mexico City. The site covers a total surface area of 32 square miles. It is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico. The city is thought to have been established around 100 BC and continued to be built until about 250 AD. At its height, perhaps in the first half of the 1st millennium AD, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. It had a population of around 125,000 or more, placing it among the largest cities of the world in this period. Teotihuacan was even home to multi-floor apartment compounds built to accommodate this large population. Although it is a subject of debate whether Teotihuacan was the center of a state empire, its influence throughout Mesoamerica is well documented; evidence its presence can be seen at numerous sites in Veracruz and the Maya region. The Aztecs were influenced by this city. Northern nomadic invasions are believed to have caused the fall of the Toltec empire around 1150. The center of population and political power shifted to the valley of Mexico and its large chain of lakes. It was divided politically into many small and competing units. (city-states) The militant Aztecs migrated to the region during the early 14th century and acted as allies or mercenaries. Built a large empire in central Mexico following the collapse of Teotihuacan. They established a capital at Tula in 968 and adopted many cultural features from sedentary peoples. The Toltec contributions was its military ethic and human sacrifice. Around 1325 they founded the cities of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelocol on lake islands. the Aztecs view the cultural achievements of the Toltec as givers of civilization, because the Aztec culturally borrowed and built off of what they had earlier created. By 1434 the Aztecs had become the dominant regional power. It was built on an island in the middle of a lake By 1519 it probably had a population of about 150,000 The city was divided into more than sixty wards controlled by kinship groups Functions of Kinship Groups •Distribution land to household heads •Organizing labor units for state service •Organizing military units for warfare Aztec Economy The Aztec state redistributed many goods received as tribute, but there was a specialized merchant class that also handled long-distance trade in rare commodities. Aztec deities were numerous and had different forms or manifestation somewhat like the avatars of the Hindu deities. They had fertility gods Gods for the agricultural cycles Creator deities Gods of warfare and sacrifice The Aztecs believed in a cyclical pattern of repetitive destructions of the world. Conquered territories were often left relatively unchanged under their old rulers as long as they recognized Aztec supremacy and paid tribute. Why did conquered peoples rebel against the Aztecs? The Aztecs required more and more sacrificial slaves. The limited technology of Mesoamerica confined women to many more hours grinding grain for food Virginity at marriage was highly regarded for young women Marriages were often arranged between lineages Young girls were often trained by the older women of the calpulli Increasing dominance of the nobility The emergence of a ruler with supreme powers The subsequent expansion of power and the boundaries of Aztec control From a loose association of clans, Aztec society became a stratified society. Between 1200 and 1535 AD, the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile. The beginning of the Inca rule started with the conquest of the Moche Culture in Peru. The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society. The height of their reign in the 15th century came to a brutal end in 1535 when the Spanish conquistadors took over their territory. Pachacuti Cuzco Their cities and fortresses were mostly built on highlands and on the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains. The Inca society was arranged by a strict hierarchical structure. There were many different levels with the Sapa, high priest or ruler, and the army commander at the top. Family members were councilors to the Sapa and even women had authority in the Inca hierarchy. The temple priests, architects and regional army commanders were next. The two lowest classes consisted of artisans, army captains, farmers, and herders. Farmers provided most of the subsistence for the rest of the population. They had to pay tax in the form of gold, which were distributed to the higher classes. The architecture of the Inca cities still amazes and puzzles most scientists. Stone steps lead up to the top of the cities, which consist of stone houses and religious buildings. The blocks of stones weigh several tons and they are fit together so tightly that not even a razor blade can fit through them. The central city was mainly used for government purposes, while the citizens occupied surrounding areas. Their homes were made from the same stone material and had grass rooftops. The comprehension of how irrigation can benefit agriculture is evident by the expansion into the highland areas. They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crop resources. Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and coca were among the many crops grown by the Inca. Llama were used for meat and transportation. There were more than enough resources available for everyone. Increased subsistence levels led to a growth in the Inca population. As the population increased and the organization of the Inca became stronger, the need for protection became necessary. They built enormous fortresses on top of steep mountains that enabled them to see their enemies and defend themselves. One of the most famous Inca fortresses is Sacasahuman, located in Cuzco. Even though the Inca never had access to the wheel, they built a sophisticated road system to connect the villages. The roads were paved with flat stones and barriers to protect the messengers, or chasqui, from falling down the cliff. The highest point in an Inca village was reserved for religious purposes. This point was the closest to the sun, which represented their major god, Inti, the Sun God. The six major gods of the Inca represent the moon, sun, earth, thunder/lightning and the sea. Pachamama is the earth god, who is the mother of all humans. The Inca had shamans who believed in animal spirits living on earth. Heaven was depicted by the condor, the underworld by the anaconda, and the brother who resided on earth was the puma. The Sun Temple, located in Machu Picchu, Peru, was a religious calendar that marked the winter and summer solstices. The Inca were fierce conquerors with a violent punishment system. Punishable crimes included robbery Murder having inappropriate relations with a Sun Virgin Punishments they were thrown off a cliff hands cut off eyes cut out hung up to starve to death Prisons were of no use because punishment usually consisted of death. Recent excavations of the Inca sites has revealed mummified bodies of the Inca royalty. They have been preserved by ice in the peaks of the Andes mountains. The practice of split inheritance. In split inheritance all political titles went to the ruler’s successor, but his wealth was kept in the hands of the male descendants to support the cult of the dead Inca’s mummy. Was used by the Inca. This also relates to the need for the ruler’s successor to build his own wealth since he didn’t inherit the wealth. The Inca believed that their ruler was related to the sun god, who would bring wealth and power to them. Only men from one of 11 noble families could serve as king. Dead rulers were mummified and worshipped by the people. the most powerful of the Andean states between 900 and 1465 following the decline of Tihuanaco and Huari The Inca usually let local rulers stay in place when they conquered a people –as long as the conquered people met Inca demands. The most important demand was for all adult workers to spend some days each year working for the state. They might work on state farms or build state roads. •In 1532, Francisco Pizarro arrived at Peru. •He had only 200 men and 27 horses with him, but on the way, many people joined him, and his group increased in number. The Spaniards not only brought European sicknesses with them, and more technology, but also many Incas rebelled against their own country. Atahualpha (the ruler of the Inca) was told that if he accepted to change his culture and become Christian, he'd be treated fairly. On August 29, 1553, Atahualpha was killed by the Spanish. The Inca emperors lasted for another 30 years hidden in the Vilcababa mountain regions, until the last of the Inca rulers was beheaded in 1572. The Inca civilization was destroyed soon after as the Spaniards forced the Inca people to give up their traditions. The Inca people were then literally worked to death.