Aztec Civilization

Dates: Located in arid valley in central Mexico

Important City Tenochtitlan – capital city built on the shallow swamp known as Lake Texcoco in what is today Mexico City

Government Aztecs were a warrior people who had carved an empire out of the central Mexican basin and were ruled by an emperor who had absolute power.

Government/Economy The Aztec emperor took tribute from their conquered peoples in the form of goods like gold, maize, cotton, cocoa beans, and jade

Government/Economy Grew great crops on floating gardens called chinampas – Avocados – Beans – Chili peppers – Corn – Squash – Tomatoes

Religion Polytheistic, but the most important god was Huitzilopochtli (sun god) Huitzilopochtli needed human blood to survive Without it, the Aztecs believed that the sun would stop shining and the world would end

Religion Kings and priests would sacrifice in order to prevent such a disaster Humans were sacrificed atop the Great Temple

Religion All Central/South American cultures practiced some form of human sacrifice, but the Aztecs sacrificed in far greater numbers – Tens of thousands of victims every year.

Decline The Aztecs fell to Spanish Conquistadors Cortez

Incan Civilization

Located in the Andes Mountains of South America

Important City Machu Picchu – located very high in the Andes Mountains and characterized by stone buildings

Government Ruled by an emperor The Inca had a large, well- organized bureaucracy which was connected by 14,000 miles of roadways

Economy This was an agrarian (agricultural) society which depended on high- altitude farming for most of its economy.

Economy They developed a special farming technique in order to grow crops along the steep mountain side: Terrace Farming

Economy They grew crops like corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and peanuts. They also had an extensive irrigation system to help them grow crops.

Religion Polytheistic- focus on key nature spirits like the moon, the stars, and thunder Sun god- Inti- was worshipped Ruler was considered descendent of sun, therefore sun worship amounted to worship of the king

Decline The Inca Empire came to an end in 1532 when conquered by Spanish conquistadors Pizarro

Achievements of Maya, Aztec, and Incan Civs Calendars Mathematics Writing and other record-keeping systems