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Aztecs • The first Aztecs were farmers from northern Mexico. • Migrated south around the 1100s. • All that was left for the Aztecs was a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. • The Aztecs lived in what is known as the Valley of Mexico in central Mexico. Tenochtitlan • Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec Empire. Legend of Tenochtitlan The gods told the Aztecs to search for an eagle holding a snake in its beak perched atop a cactus. This is where they were to build their capital city. The Aztecs saw this sign on a swampy island in lake Texcoco. Legend of Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan • Today, Tenochtitlan is Mexico City How did the Aztecs build a city in the center of a lake? • Tenochtitlan was built on an island – Travel and trade difficult. • To make it easier to get to and from their city, the Aztecs built three wide causeways to connect the island to the shore. – Raised roads across water or wet ground – Made of rocks covered with dirt. • Tenochtitlan was surrounded by water, but the water was undrinkable. – Built a stone aqueduct, or channel, to bring fresh water to the city. • The city’s island location also limited land available for farming. • Built “floating gardens” called chinampas. • Made by putting soil on rafts anchored to trees in the water. • Surrounded a central island that was the heart of the city. • The Aztecs also controlled a huge trade network. • Towns had a market where local farmers and artisans brought their goods to trade. • Luxury goods such as gems and rare food. Government • The Aztecs created an empire through conquest • Conquered people and local rulers had to pay tribute to the Aztecs • The Aztecs had an emperor • The Aztec Emperor’s main job was to lead in war • Aztecs were polytheistic • Huitzilopochtli was the main Aztec god. (weets se lo poch tlee) • The Aztecs built massive temples and pyramids dedicated to their gods Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon • Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs. • For the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400 prisoners over the course of four days. • To give the sun strength to rise each day, human sacrifices were offered. Inca • The Incas began as a small tribe in the Andes. • Capital = Cuzco • In the mid-1400s a ruler named Pachacuti led the Incas to expand their territory. Where did the Inca live? • The Inca controlled an empire in the Andes Mountain region of South America. • The Incas didn’t want the people they conquered to have too much power. • Made the leaders of conquered areas move out of their villages. • Brought in new leaders who were loyal to the Inca government. • The Incas made the children of conquered leaders travel to the capital to learn about Inca government and religion. • The children then went back to rule their villages, where they taught people the Inca way of life. • To unify their empire, the Incas established an official language, Quechua. – All official business had to be done in that language. • They kept records with cords called quipus. – Knots in the cords represented numbers. – Different colors stood for information about crops, land, and other important topics Social Structure • Inca society had two main social classes—an upper class and a lower class. – Upper = Incas – Lower = Conquered peoples • Upper Class Kings, priests, government officials • Men worked for the government • Women had household duties • Lower Class Farmers, artisans, or servants. • Farmed on government lands, served in the army, worked in mines, and built roads. • The Sapa Inca (emperor) had absolute power. • The emperor claimed to be the son of the sun. • The emperor was also the empire’s religious leader. • The empire was divided into four regions with the capital at Cuzco. Uniting the Empire • The Inca built a massive road network through mountains and across rivers and gorges. • The Inca were polytheistic. • The primary god was Inti, the sun god.