Transcript Chapter 10

Americas:
Aztecs
On Eve of
Invasion
Chapter 11
pgs 234-254
•
Consider reading relevant
info “Beyond Classical
Civs” on pg. 104-105:
starting w/¶ “Yet another
portion of the world…”
Incas
Postclassic Mesoamerica, to 1500
Background

800-400 BCE:
Olmec
Analogous to River Valley Civs, but built on corn
 No writing, but religious inspired pyramids, calendars & art


400CE-800:


In Central Mexico, America’s 1st great city
400CE-800:

Teotihuacan
Maya
In Yucatan Peninsula, important city-states (like Chichén Itzá)
Toltec Heritage
 1000
– 1150 CE
 Empire
in C. Mexico w/ military ethic & sacrifice
 Influenced Aztecs as well as Maya & groups in North
America
Aztec Rise to Power
Aztecs = militant & religious
Power
drawn from military strength, connection to
Toltec culture
Use marshy island to end wandering: Tenochtitlan
Aztec Social Contract
 Expansion
 Aztecs:
 Ritual
& conquest results in change
chosen to serve gods
human sacrifice grows
Religion & Ideology of Conquest
 Polytheistic
 Worship grouped into 3 cults
 Gods
of Fertility & Agriculture; Gods of Creation;
Gods of Sacrifice & Warfare
 Most important ritual
 Human-Gods relationship
 Additional complexity
 Spiritual unity
 Fatalistic view of world
= sacrifice
QUESTION SLIDE
 Compare
& contrast the Aztec religion with
Hinduism.
Feeding the People: The Economy
 Required
large, stable food source
 Tribute
from conquered lands
 Traditional ag by peasants = chinampas
 Social
Structure
 Clans
= farming (some set aside)
 Exceptions: Nobility, Merchants
 Heavily
state-controlled
1 of 2
Aztec Society in Transition
Widening Social Gulf
Aztecs’ original social structure
Calpulli – clans organized the empire
2 of 2
Widening Social Gulf

Expansion: transforms classes

Clans weaken & class divisions emerge

1.
Nobility

2.
Scribes, artisans, healers, merchants
Commoners

4.
Powerful administrators & powerful military leaders
Small middle group

3.
Classes reinforced by uniforms & clothing
Worked estates like serfs at will of nobles
Slaves
Overcoming Tech Constraints
 Women:
have role but subordinate
 Helped
in fields & reared children
 Cooked & prepared food
 Lack
of technology
 Limited
social development
 Political-religious system based on intimidation
1 of 2
A Tribute Empire

Gov’t = collection of city-states
1.
“Great Speaker” = ruler of Tenochtitlan

Acted as emperor
2.
Prime Minister = chief advisor
3.
Governing Council
4.
“Speaker”
2 of 2
A Tribute Empire
 Empire
never fully integrated
 Tribute
concentrated power, but…
 Local rulers given independence
 Success
= domination, not
administration
 Failure
= division, fear, tribute
Twantinsuyu: the Incas
Background

-Geography
of mtns dividing valleys made
broad civilization difficult

1200-200BCE:



Analogous to River Valley Civs, but built on potatoes
550CE-1000:

Chavin & Moche (religious heritage)
Huari & Tihuanaco
Establish highland ag in cultural hearth of Inca
900CE-1465:
Chimor (economic & artistic heritage)
The Inca Rise to Power
 1350
CE—clans of common language
draw on tradition
 Center
empire around city = Cuzco
 Pachacuti: emperor united group, began territorial
expansion
 “Twantinsuyu” or Inca Empire formed
 Armies
conquer vast & diverse areas
Conquest & Religion
 Reason
 Split
for expansion?
inheritance
 Central
 Lesser
to religion = cult of the Sun
local animistic deities
 Served
at temples by clans, priests, & women
 Offerings & sacrifices given
 Centers of festivals, rituals
1 of 2
Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule
 Central
authority, provincial
bureaucracy & local autonomy
 Integration
reciprocity
of diversity based on
2 of 2
Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule
 Economic
considerations
 Communities
aimed at self-sufficiency, supported
by state control
 Class
considerations
 Equal
& interdependent genders?
 Nobility & Priests vs. Yanas & Ayllus
Inca Cultural Achievements
 Art
 Record
keeping
 Infrastructure
QUESTION SLIDE
 Compare
and contrast the Incas and Aztecs?
Other Peoples of the Americas
How Many People?
 Estimates
for West Hemisphere vary
 Historical
context
Differing Cultural Patterns
 Ecological
variety = development
continuum
 Chiefdom
 Mixed
societies
societies (agriculture & hunting)
 Hunter-gatherer
societies
 Commonalities
QUESTION SLIDE
 In
what ways do the Americas challenge our
definition of civilization?
World Context &
Global Connections
 Isolation
mattered
from world system clearly