The+Americas



The Aztecs * || * || * || * || Summary:
 * || * **Chinampas**, floating bodies of aquatic plants were crucial to Aztecan agriculture. They improved productivity to a great extent
 * Allowed for 4 corn harvests a year
 * Markets cycled every 5-13 days; and during this period of trade a large variety of goods were exchanged.
 * Daily market of **Tlatelolco** operated by a special merchant class, pochteca, that specialized in long distance trade
 * Nobles received more from post-conquest spoils
 * Distribution of food came down to the state, which recieved food from tributes
 * S || * Were originally an intrusive and militant group; founded **Tenochtitlan** in 1325
 * From a loose association of clans, the Aztecs formed a stratified society with one supreme ruler.
 * Seven **calpulli**, or clans, transformed into social stratification that organized daily life.
 * A new noble class emerged as Aztec power expanded.
 * Social divide were meant to be clearly visible (through clothing, apparel, etc.)
 * The gulf between the peasantry and the small nobility began to widen as nobles gain more land.
 * Healers, artisans, and scribes part of an intermediary class, usually along with the merchants.
 * Women still hold subordinate role, but their rights are fully recgonized
 * Polygamy among nobility, monogamy among peasantry
 * P || * Working as mercenaries and eventually allies allowed the Aztecs (rulers and nobles) to gain wealth and land.
 * Aztecs dominated alliance and took major share of all the tribute.
 * Political power of all-mighty rulers justified human sacrifices
 * Members of military elevated by capturing prisoners for sacrifice.
 * I || * *Conquest of surrounding peoples was ongoing; as they were forced to pay tribute if they were conquered.
 * Influence from any conquered people did exist as cultures were shared. ||
 * R || * Human sacrifices was common at religious rituals and military class also played an enormous role.
 * Religion was a powerful force in which the world of the gods and the natural world were the same
 * Gods were present in duality, in both the male and female form
 * Yearly festivals and ceremonies were held for these Gods and sacrifices were made.
 * Spiritual unity ties all Aztecans to a common purpose. ||
 * I || * Rewrote history to suit their needs.
 * Great temples were built to hold religious sacrifices and rituals
 * T || * *Limitations in technology make it difficult to sustain a large population in Mexico (agricultural tools very inefficient)
 * Women spend six hours a day grinding corn by hand on stone boards, or metates, to prepare food.
 * Population may have reached over 20 million, making it really hard to feel all the people. ||

The Aztecs were a warrior-like people that followed the **Toltecs** to rule Mesoamerica. Known for their exceptions fighting skills and religious "zeal," then built upon what earlier civilizations brought to the table. Heavily relying on tributes from conquered people, the Aztecs frequently expanded their territories. Social stratification was the norm in society, as society was originally divided into 7 clans that organized the matters of daily life for its people. Social divide was visible in the streets because of the differences in clothing and appearance for each respective class. Religion was a dominant force in daily life, as the supreme ruler's power was justified through the existence of the gods. Human sacrifices were also justified in order to please the gods. As the empire expanded, so did a more powerful nobility class. The Aztec system was unique because it aimed at exerting political domination and not necessarily administrative control. Increasing social stresses created by the rise of the nobles and the system of terror and tribute imposed of conquered people were internal weakness that led to the collapse of the Aztec Empire.



Inca Empire:

* || Summary:
 * E || * Heavy dependence on agriculture, corn is a main crop for the Incans
 * Governmen directed economic activity. ||
 * S || * Incan males took part in the mita (a cycle that switch from personal harvest to public labor)
 * This was a critical aspect of Inca control
 * **Yanas** were a class removed from the politcal heirarchy
 * Most males were farmers or herders
 * Women also expected to labor for state (through tapesties)
 * P || * State organization and bureaucratic control over different peoples was apparent.
 * Political power was given to successors, while inheiritance remained at the hands of the male decendents.
 * The state provided much needed social works projects such as road building, and in return the people were expected to pay back with labor) ||
 * I || * Many Indians from diverse background were controlled under the Incan bureacracy. ]
 * **Syncretism** apparent from previous people in the Andean region. ||
 * R || * *Religious tolerance was certainly accepted as long as their own religion was also followed
 * **Temple of the Sun** was the center of state religion
 * Mountains and caves were considered holy shrines because they were part of nature.
 * **Cult of the Ancestor** - mummification and reverance of past leaders. ||
 * I || * ***Quipu**, a system of knot tying, was used to keep record of numerical information. ||
 * T || * *2500 miles of road connected all parts of the empire; tambos (rest stops for travelers) were placed at frequent intervals
 * Metallurgy and architecture saw great advancements
 * Number system based on decimals to the power of 10 greatly improved government bureaucracy. ||

"After about 1300 in the Andean cultural hearth, a new civilization emerged and eventually spread its control over the whole region. The Inca Empire, or **Twantinsuyu**, was a highly centralized system that integrated various ethnic groups into an imperial state. Extensive irrigated agriculture supported a state religion and a royal ancestor cult. With notable achievements in architecture and metallurgy, the Incas incorporated many elements of the civilizations that preceded them. "