AZTEC NOTES

• Tenochtitlan• Built on an island in the middle

of Lake Texcoco. • Fertile (good for farming) soil,

but not much of it. • They built chinampas (“floating

gardens”) to create more farmland.

• It was also easy to protect, but hard to get to.

• They built 3 causeways (25 feet wide) – bridges to the mainland.

• When discovered in 1519 it was bigger than London, Paris, or Venice.

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• It was also easy to protect, but hard to get to.

• They built 3 causeways (25 feet wide) – bridges to the mainland.

• When discovered in 1519 it was bigger than London, Paris, or Venice.

EMPIRE

• Aztec Empire • It was at its peak from 1428 to

1519AD • The empire was based on: • –  Tribute collected from

conquered people • –  Warfare to increase tribute

and get laborers / sacrificial victims

EMPIRE

• –  Warfare to increase tribute and get laborers / sacrificial victims

• no assimilation, no colonies, and no loyalty (a fact the Spanish used against the Aztec when they defeated them).

CLASS STRUCTURE

• King – ruled from Tenochtitlan • (unlike the Maya, there was one

ruler who ruled the empire, but all he really cared about was getting tribute).

• Government Officials – collected tribute and led building projects.

CLASS STRUCTURE

• Priests – led religious rites and trained children

• Commoners – professional traders, spies, artisans

• Peasants – farmed land but could not own it

• Slaves – war captives or criminals. • Family Life • Men obtained food and fought wars • Women prepared food and bore

children • Marriages were arranged by

matchmakers. • polygamy was acceptable

CLASS STRUCTURE

• Family Life • Men obtained food and fought

wars • Women prepared food and bore

children • Marriages were arranged by

matchmakers. • polygamy was acceptable

The INCA EMPIRE

Inca Beginnings

• Started in the Andes Mountains around Lake Titicaca

• Their bodies adapted to harsh climate (larger lungs and

• short, strong legs).

ROADS

-15,000 miles of road connected all the parts of the empire (enough to stretch across the United States 5 times) They cut steps into the sides of mountains to make trade and travel easier suspension bridges made of twisted grass rope.

Terraces

– Incans used terraces just like the Mayans.

– Grew different crops at different altitudes (heights).

– They needed to do this to provide enough food.

Stonework

–Stonework • no mortar o r cement was needed. • a knife blade could not fit between stones •Many Inca buildings are still standing.

Sapa Inca

– descended from Inti, had complete authority. –Married sister to keep bloodline pure. –Chose heir from her children.

Nobles & Everyone Else

»Nobles enforced laws (made sure Incas wore proper clothes and kept their houses clean) »Almost everyone else farmed

• –  potatoes (200 types) • –  corn (eaten fresh, fried, or popped) • Family Life

Nobles & Everyone Else

• Ayllus – groups of families who worked and maintained part of the emperor’s land. • Food was collected and given to whoever

needed it. • Marriage by holding hands and exchanging

sandals. • The dead were mummified and continued

to “live” with the family.