1. Aztec 1200-1521 AD Location Central Mexico, Valley of Mexico
Shallow lakes
Many resources
Fertile soil

2. Tenochtitlan
The place where the eagle screams, where he spreads his wings; the place where he feeds, where the fish jump, where the serpents coil up and hiss! This shall be Mexico Tenochtitlan and many things shall happen!

3. Aztec 1200-1521 AD Government Emperor ruled with absolute power
Power based on military conquest
Local rulers governed their own regions
Tribute paid to emperor

4. Aztec 1200-1521 AD Economy Extensive trade
Agriculture on floating gardens
Avocadoes
Beans
Chili peppers
Corn
Squash
Tomatoes

5. Aztec 1200-1521 AD Society Emperor
Nobles (Government Officials, Military Leaders, Religious Leaders)
Commoners (Merchants, Soldiers, Artisans, Farmers)
Slaves

6. Aztec 1200-1521 AD Religion Polytheistic Over 1,000 gods
Elaborate religious festivals including song, dance, and drama
Massive scale of human sacrifice to sun god (slaves, criminals, & conquered people) so the sun would rise the next day

7. Aztec Dance

9. Aztec 1200-1521 AD RISE FALL Unified culture
Loyalty to the political and religious ruler
Military conquest & tribute system brought land, power, & humans for sacrifice
Too many resources used for religious activities
Unrest & rebellion due to oppression
Became less aggressive so they could capture live prisoners for sacrifice
Spanish conquest

10. Shocking Facts

12. Warm-up #10.3 (16.3) They were used for sacrifices
Why did conquered peoples resent Aztec rule?
What things led to the decline of Mesoamerican civilizations?
Military conquering and building alliances led to the growth of what Mesoamerican civilization?
How did the Aztecs adapt to their environment?
They were used for sacrifices
Disease, invasion, and internal conflict
Aztecs
They irrigated and reclaimed swampland for farming

13. Inca 1438-1535 AD Location Valley of Cusco, South America
Andes Mountains

14. Inca AD
Government
Believed ruler was a descendant of the sun god
Central bureaucracy
Allowed conquered people to keep own customs if loyal but demanded tribute (labor)
People cared for in good & bad times & gave work to the state in return (like socialism)
Extensive road network linked all conquered territories to capital city, Cuzco
Pachacuti was the most successful leader of the Inca

15. Inca AD
Economy
Mita – All able bodied citizens were required to work for the state a certain number of days
The government had total control over trade and commerce (no private trade)
Terraced agriculture allowed for a wide variety of agricultural products

16. Inca AD
Society
Ayllu (extended family group) basis of society
Different social groups were marked by patterns on their clothing
Ayllus were grouped by 10, and headed by a chief
Mita- labor tribute

17. Inca 1438-1535 AD Religion Polytheism
Small number of key nature spirits
Virgins were used to assist priests in religious ceremony
Sacrifice of llamas and offerings to priests & gods

18. Inca 1438-1535 AD RISE FALL Unified culture
Loyalty to the political and religious ruler
Empire was connected by an extensive series of roads (all roads led to Cuzco, the capital)
Government cared for entire population
Too many resources were used for religious activities
Emperor died & his sons began to fight for control… leading to civil war
Spanish conquest

19. Peru Today
Machu Pichu
Amazon

20. Machu Pichu