History Aztecs and Inca

Huitzilopochtli

An Aztec god, represented the sun and war

Tenochtitlan

The capital of the Aztec Empire, on Lake Texcoco

Chinampas

Irrigated, floating gardens used for farming in bodies of water (Lake Texcoco)

Cuzco

Capital city of the Inca Empire

Capacocha

Ritual sacrifice of the Inca for their gods (involved the sacrifice of children)

THE Inca (the job)

The supreme leader of the Inca Empire

Quechua

Unifying language of the Inca

Mita

A forced labor draft by the Inca on their conquered peoples (allowed for greater infrastructure and sense of unity, working together for common goal)

Quipu

Inca way of recording (numerical info) by variously colored threads knotted in different ways

Terracing

Inca agricultural method of transforming the Andes Mountains’ slopes into flat steps (for crop growth)

Mitmaq

-Forced resettlement/assimilation of conquered groups used by the Incas (to create loyal citizens)

-Moved loyal peoples into hostile regions and vice versa

Where did the Aztecs come from?

The Valley of Mexico

Where did the Aztecs migrate to?

Shores of Lake Texcoco, built capital Tenochtitlan

Why were Aztecs hated by surrounding neighbors?

Very militant, seen as uncultured (without culture and loyalty) and seen as fantastical followers of their gods (due to intense human sacrifice rituals)

What was Tenochtitlan like?

Extremely large, many clean and modern canals, orderly lives, accurate calendars, sophisticated medicine, creativity, and militarian

What were some challenges in the Aztecs supporting a 20 million person population?

Feeding the population (solution: food demanded as tribute from defeated peoples and chinampas to grow food)

How did chinampas keep the Aztecs strong?

Used to feed the population, created food for trade and farm land

If you were conquered by the Aztecs, what were the conditions for staying alive?

Forced to pay tribute (food/money/bodies for sacrifice) and do military service (join or die)

What did the Aztecs believe would happen if they didn’t conduct constant human sacrifice?

Believed that human sacrifice was ‘feeding the gods’, and if they stopped then the world would end (ex: If Huitzilopochtil wasn’t “fed”, the sun would stop rising)

What groups of people were most often sacrificed by the Aztecs?

War captives (often not native Aztecs), as they were viewed as brave and strong and it was seen as an honor to be sacrificed (warriors seen as the highest gift they could give their gods)

Where did the Inca live?

Andes Mountains

How did WHERE the Inca lived impact HOW they lived?

-Different ways of human sacrifice (held in the mountains, sacrificed froze to death)

-Llamas and alpacas used for transportation and wool for textiles due to cold weather (textiles also used for trade)

-Steep slopes led to terracing for crop cultivation

How did the Inca take control of 100 different ethnic groups?

Through military campaigns and alliances launched by THE Inca, hostage systems, and cultural integration (mitmaq and mita)

Was the Inca government centralized or decentralized?

Decentralized, split into 4 provinces under a governor and divided again into smaller districts

How did split inheritance benefit the Inca Empire?

-Allowed for constant expansion of the Inca Empire, as each Inca (ruler) believed they needed to expand the empire to ensure a place in eternity

-Believed that each Inca must expand the empire themselves in order to create a lasting legacy (not much was passed down from previous Inca)

How did mitmaq benefit the Inca Empire?

Created more loyal Incan citizens, allowed for cultural integration (spread of Quechua) and assimilation

How did quipu benefit the Inca Empire?

Allowed for a way of numerical recording and record-keeping, with each knot and color meaning something different (ex: population, food supply, and military strength)

How did pastoralism benefit the Inca Empire?

Allowed for the Inca to better understand the land around them and how to cultivate it, use of llamas and alpacas allowed for wool, textiles, and transportation

How is capacocha different from/similar to Aztec human sacrifice?

-Capacocha sacrificed children, Aztecs sacrificed warriors

-Capacocha intoxicated the children before sacrifice, Aztecs didn’t

-Different frequencies when sacrificed (Capacocha: after events such as eclipses, natural disasters, the death of an Inca, etc. Aztecs: ritually)

-Difference in how sacrificed (Capacocha: left to freeze to death after being intoxicated Aztecs: Heart ripped out w/ no intoxication)

-Similar as both were in attempts to appease their gods

What were the conditions for staying alive if conquered by the Inca?

Serve in their army, pay tribute, pledge loyalty, worship the same gods, and mita

How does mita play an important part in the Inca Empire?

-All conquered groups must participate

-How roads/temples/terracing were built

-Served in mita for ~2 months out of the year

-Created a material surplus for the Inca Empire

-Created a sense of unity between the Inca and their conquered people, all working together for the benefit of the empire

What kind of mummies existed in the Inca Empire?

Purposeful mummies: Deceased Inca (rulers), paraded around during holidays/festivals

Not purposeful mummies: Sacrificed children who were mummified due to perfect weather conditions and the intoxicating drink

HOW could the Aztec possibly control such a massive empire?

Through their military power

• Demanded tribute from those conquered (ex: food/money/bodies for sacrifice, allowed for material surplus)

• Conquered must surrender lands (expanding empire)

• Conquered must complete military service (allowed for greater military power)

HOW could the Inca possibly control such as massive empire?

Well-developed road systems

• Made through mita

• Allowed for rapid travel and trade

Empire

An extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress

Indigenous

Inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.

Tribute

Payment made periodically, especially as a sign of dependence.

Textiles

A type of cloth or woven fabric.

Animism

The attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.