Post on 31-Dec-2015
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