Transcript Toltec, Aztec, & Inca

Toltec, Aztec,
& Inca
The Toltec Empire
• Toltec are ancient people of Mexico
• Hunter-gatherers at 1st
• Settled in central Mexico-A.D. 900
• Controlled large part of current Mexico
The Toltec Empire
• The Toltec Culture
– Records from people of region after Toltec lived
there
– Not sure if the Toltec called themselves Toltec
– Capital=city of Tula
– Knowledge comes from the Aztecs, who came
after the Toltecs
The Toltec Empire
• The Toltec Culture
–Worshipped feather serpent-Quetzalcoatal
–A.D. 1200=Toltec empire conquered
• Possibly civil war broke out
• Enemies had the opportunity to overthrow the
Toltec rulers
–Toltec empire replaced w/ the Aztec
The Aztec Gain Power
• The Aztec or Mexica arrived in central
Mexico around A.D. 1200
• Island of Texcoco
• Legend-should settle were they saw an
eagle on a cactus holding a snake
–This is where they built Tenochtitlan
The Aztec Gain Power
• Building Tenochtitlán
– Early 1500s-20,000 people lived in Tenochtitlán
• 1 of the world’s largest cities
– Built causeways that went to the shore
• Earthen roadways
– The city center had houses for priests, large
temples, palaces, & schools
The Aztec Gain Power
• Building Tenochtitlán
–Valley of Mexico had bad farmland
• Created chinampas or artificial islands
• Built on Lake Texcoco
• Farmers filled reed baskets w/rich lake mud
• Planted crops in baskets & tied in place
The Aztec Gain Power
• The Aztec Empire
– Pay tribute/taxes to powerful neighbors
– 1428-Aztec army joined 2 cities & took control of valley
– Early 1500s-Aztec empire expanded
• Pacific ocean to present-day Guatemala
– Make items from gold & silver-didn’t work w/iron
• Weapons had sharp blades of obsidian
• Armor-made of quilted cotton & was soaked in vinegar to
make it hard
The Aztec Gain Power
• Aztec Culture
– Worshipped many gods
• Corn goddess, rain, sun, & war god
– Worshipped Aztec ruler-related to gods
– Human sacrifice
• Gain protection of gods them human lives
• Aztec priests sacrifice war prisoners on the top of
the Great pyramid
The Aztec Gain Power
• Aztec Culture
–Aztec science & technology were advanced
• Doctors had medicine
• Used plants to cure stomach aches, heal
wounds, & reduce fevers
• Astronomers created accurate calendar
• “Sun calendar” carved in stone w/images of
historical events
–Used to predict solar eclipses
The Aztec Gain Power
• Mexican Heritage
– Mexicans have reminders of Aztec heritage
• Mexican flag shows eagle holding snake from the
legend
• Aztec artistic style used by Mexican artists
• Some people in central Mexico still speak Aztec
language
• Mexico comes from Aztec name of Mexica
The Rise of the Inca
• South America has extreme geography
• 1 of the largest rivers-Amazon
• 1 of largest mt. ranges-The Andes
– Western coast of South America & 4,500 mi. long
– Life is difficult-cold, dry, rugged
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Earthquakes & volcanic eruptions
Travel is difficult-built rope bridges
Farmers dug canals to irrigate farms
Planted on terraces-flat areas dug out of the hillsides
The Rise of the Inca
–Inca capital=Cuzco, Peru
• In the mountains
• Cuzco has more than 300,000 people (today)
–Inca civilization home to previous civilization
–Borrowed ideas from other cultures
–Empire created along the west coast
The Rise of the Inca
• Inca Accomplishments
–Pachakuti was the ruler-1438
• Soldiers conquer area
• Everyone worked for the central gov’t
–Men=built roads & farmed
–Women=make cloth
• Central storehouse-clothed & fed
The Rise of the Inca
• Inca Accomplishments
– Inca empire=12 million people
• Cuzco=rich & powerful city
• Center of gov’t, religion, & trade
• Buildings made of stone
– Ex. forts, palaces, & temples made w/out cement
– Survived earthquakes & many walls still standing
• Built miles of roads
– Soldiers & supplies
– Messengers deliver news
The Rise of the Inca
• Children of the Sun
– Inti=sun god & most important
– Ruler was related to the sun god (worshipped)
– Polytheistic
• Earth goddess, god of thunder, rainbow god, & sea goddess
– Worked in gold mines
• “Sweat of the Sun”
• Gold to decorated the sun god’s temples
– Cuzco temple=large gold sculpture w/precious metals
Inca Life
• The Inca had 3 rules
– Ama suwa-do not steal
– Ama quella-do not be lazy
– Ama llulla-do not lie
• Strictly organized
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Inca emperor=top of social pyramid
Nobles & priests under emperor
Conquered rulers & chiefs-had some pwr. & regional judges
Peasants
Inca Life
– Inca emperor, nobles, & priests
• Lived on or near great plaza at the center of Cuzco
– Temples & gov’t buildings located here
– Peasants &/or Farmers
• Simple homes made of mud bricks, reeds, & stone
• Grew corn, potatoes, & peppers
• Grew crops using hydroponics
– Growing crops in water- more nutrients
– Fed nearly 12 million people
Inca Life
• Records of Thread
– Incas didn’t have an alphabet or usual written language
– Quipus-Set of colored & knotted strings that’s 2 ft. long
• Colors indicated news
– White threads=silver & yellow threads=gold (material)
– Red threads=war
• Tying knots in particular way-how to read
• Record events, pop., & taxes
– Created beautiful works of arts- sculptures of gold & silver
• Gold= “sweat of the sun & Silver=“tears of the moon”
Inca Life
• A Living Language
–Inca language survived the Spanish conquest
• Quechua
–Millions of people in Andes speak Quechua
–Quechua speakers live in Argentina, Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, & Peru