Robert Wade AP World History

Bryan Adams High School

Robert Wade AP World History

Bryan Adams High School

New Cultures

appearance of new peoples in central America

Toltecs Aztecs

The Toltecs

adopted sedentary agricultural practices added a strong military and imperial culture

– conquest of neighboring peoples ritual wars

– war....capture...sacrifice “givers of civilization”

Toltec empire

central Mexico expansion into former Mayan territories northern Mexico

– trade with the American Southwest– Chaco Canyon ???

Quetzalcoatl

The Feathered Serpent Topiltzin: a priest

– religious reformer– opposed to human and animal sacrifice

exiled to the east, with a promise to return on a specific date

same year as Cortez and the Conquistadors

The Aztecs

collapse of the Toltecs: 1150 A.D. influx of nomadic invaders form the north shift of power to central Mexico

– large lakes– fertile agricultural areas

contests for control

The Aztecs: Origins

obscure background claimed to have live in the area originally exiled to the north to Aztlan actually, nomads from the North took advantage of the Toltec collapse wrote history to suit their purposes

Origins

group who settled near Lake Texcoco 1325 A.D. competed with other Chichimec immigrants small states

– claiming connections to the Toltecs– speaking Nahuatl

Lake Texcoco

several tribes small city-state Azcapotzalco, Culhuacan Culhuacan: control by diplomatic marriage complex alliances, constantly shifting

Aztecs

new group used as mercenaries and occasional allies constant movement around the lake shore

– driven by stronger powers reputation: good warriors and religious

fanatics

Aztec Settlement

the legend: an eagle on a cactus, holding a rattlesnake

an island in Lake Texcoco Tenochtitlan

– 1325 A.D.– Tlateloco: a second settlement

Aztec expansion

more active role in regional politics rebelled against Azcapotzalco emerged as an independent power political merge: 1434

– Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan – Aztecs dominated the alliance

Social and Political Change

imperial expansion subject peoples paid tribute, surrender land,

and do military service stratified society

– under the authority of a supreme ruler– Tlacaelel: advised rulers and rewrote histories– the Aztecs had been chosen to serve the gods

human sacrifice greatly expanded

Human sacrifice

role of the military role of expansion flower wars means of political terrorism cult of sacrifice united with the political

state

Religion and Conquest

little distinction between the natural and supernatural

traditional gods and goddesses 128 major deities

Gods

male/female dualism different manifestations five aspects

– four directions – the center

gods as patrons complex ceremonial year

Gods, con’t

gods of fertility and agriculture gods of creation

– cosmology and philosophical thought gods of warfare Huitzilopochtli: their tribal deity

– identified with the Sun God

The Sun God and Sacrifice

a warrior in the daytime sky fighting to give life to the world enemy of the forces of night the sun needs strength 52 year cycle of the world

– required blood to avert destruction

The Sun God, con’t

sacrifice for sacrifice the gods need nourishment

– human blood and hearts adoption of longstanding human sacrifice expansion to “industrial” proportions

– 10,000 people on one occasion

The Empire: the Economy

high population density combination of tradition and innovation

– chinampas– 20,000 acres– four crops a year

food as tribute

The Empire: the Economy

high population density combination of tradition and innovation

– chinampas– 20,000 acres– four crops a year

food as tribute

Lands of the Lands of the AztecsAztecs

Aztec View of Aztec View of TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Ruins of the City Ruins of the City Center, TenochtitlanCenter, Tenochtitlan

The The Codex Codex

MendMendozaoza : :The The

FoundFoundingingofof

TenocTenochtitlahtitla

nn

Tenochtitlan: The Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the “Venice” of the

AmericasAmericas

Aztec Aztec ChinampaChinampa or or Floating Garden:Floating Garden:

15ft. to 30ft. wide15ft. to 30ft. wide

Tenochtitlan - Tenochtitlan - ChinampasChinampas

Aztec MathAztec Math

Aztec WritingAztec Writing

Aztec Sun Stone -- Aztec Sun Stone -- CalendarCalendar

Aztec Sun MotifsAztec Sun Motifs

Aztec Aztec CodexCodex (15c Manuscript)(15c Manuscript)

The The Aztecs Aztecs WereWereFierce Fierce WarriorsWarriors

Aztecs Sacrifice Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes Neighboring Tribes to the Sun Godto the Sun God

Heart SacrificeHeart Sacrificeon an Aztec Temple on an Aztec Temple

PyramidPyramid

Wall of Skulls, Wall of Skulls, TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Sacrificial Statue, Sacrificial Statue, TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Aztec GoldAztec Gold

South America: the Incas

Cuzco: original home– 1350 A.D.

expansion by 1438 Incan empire

– ruled 10-13 million people

Religion and expansion

cult of ancestors “split inheritance”

– position to successor– land and wealth to descendants to care for the

dead new land necessary for each ruler

Religion

animism sun worship

The Empire

four provinces decimal organizations Ouechua: the official language colonists

The Empire con’t

infrastructure: roads and bridges communications by runners

– 10,000 purpose: land and labor little actual tribute

Inca “socialism”

empire claimed all resources redistributed them evenly to all peoples local independence access to new goods and services

Weakness

top-heavy with royal and noble families low level of technology easy prey for the Spanish

Lands of the Lands of the IncasIncas

Cuzco: ACuzco: Ancient Capital ncient Capital of the Incaof the Inca

(11,000 ft. above sea level)(11,000 ft. above sea level)

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Terrace Incan Terrace FarmingFarming

Incan Digging Incan Digging SticksSticks

Maize in Incan Maize in Incan PotteryPottery

& Gold Work& Gold Work

Over 100 Different Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Types of Potatoes

Cultivated Cultivated by the Incansby the Incans

Produce from a Produce from a Typical Incan Typical Incan Market Market

Incan Ceramic JarsIncan Ceramic Jars

PeanutPeanutPeanutPeanut PotatoPotatoPotatoPotato SquashSquashSquashSquash

Cacao Cacao GodGod

Cacao Cacao GodGod

Cacao PodCacao PodCacao PodCacao Pod

The The QuipuQuipu: : An Incan An Incan DatabaseDatabase

Incan MummiesIncan Mummies

Inca Gold & SilverInca Gold & Silver