The Americas
Aztec Empire (1345-1528)
Last and largest Mesoamerican state before Spanish conquest.
Established by Mexica people on Lake Texcoco by 1325.
Developed military capacity, formed alliances, built Tenochtitlán.
Triple Alliance in 1428 initiated aggressive conquests, integrating Mesoamerica.
Population: Estimated 5-6 million, unstable with frequent rebellions.
Required tribute (labor, textiles, food, luxuries) from conquered peoples.
Tenochtitlán: Metropolis with canals, temples, and a pyramid.
Aztec Society and Religion
Slavery played a significant role, especially for sacrificial purposes.
Human sacrifice viewed as essential to nourish the sun deity Huitzilopochtli.
War aimed at capturing prisoners for sacrifice to maintain cosmic order.
Priests and rulers were mutually dependent; sacrifices demonstrated power.
Incas in the Andes (1438-1533)
Located in a diverse ecological landscape, gathered resources through various means.
Inca Empire larger than Aztec, stretching 2,500 miles, population million.
A bureaucratic state with a divine emperor; conducted population resettlement.
Local officials integrated into administration; detailed record-keeping via quipus.
Mita labor system required every household to contribute to state projects.
Gender Systems
Both societies practiced "gender parallelism"; distinct but equivalent roles for men and women.
Incan and Aztec spiritual and ceremonial practices involved male and female deities.
Women's domestic work was valued and not considered inferior.
Reflections on Civilization
Civilization associated with advanced technologies, state organization, but also with inequality and oppression.
Historians debate the term's implications, seeking clarity on boundaries and identities.
"Civilization" serves as a descriptive term for complex societies characterized by urban centers and state structures.