Aim How should we remember the Aztecs and

Aim: How should we remember the Aztecs and Inca? Do Now: What do you know about the Aztecs, or Inca? What do you want to know? The Aztec Origin Myth: The Gods told the Aztecs to search for an eagle perched atop a cactus holding a snake in its beak. Their God Huitzilopochtli guided them to Lake Texcoco.

I Pre-Columbian Civilizations A) Pre-Columbian civilizations flourished in the Americas prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Recall earlier Pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica… ü Carved giant heads out of stone The Olmecs (1200 – 400 BCE) The Maya (Golden Age 500 üLived in the Yucatan (rainforest) üCity-states (no centralized – 900 CE) government) üSlash and burn agriculture (cut *When the Spanish down and burned trees to create conquistadors arrived in the space and fertilizer) early 16 th century, the üHuman sacrifice to keep the Maya had abandoned their gods happy üCreated multiple calendars, cities. hieroglyphics, a number system including zero, and built large stone temples

II Geography Aztecs 1427 CE – 1521 CE Inca 1438 CE – 1572 CE ü Lived in Mexico by Lake ü Western coast of South Texcoco America (Peru and Argentina) ü They invaded from the north ü From the Pacific Coast to the ü The empire was bordered by Andes mountains the Atlantic and Pacific ü Lake Titicaca is the highest Oceans elevated lake in the world!

III Government Aztec Similarities ü Capital at ü Empire ruled by Tenochtitlan an Emperor ü Conquered cities had to pay tribute in goods/sacrificial victims Inca ü Empire ruled by an Emperor ü Capital at Cuzco

Tenochtitlan, Aztec Capital

Cuzco, Incan Capital

Inca Festival of the Sun

IV Religion Aztec Similarities Inca ü Practiced ü Polytheistic ü Practiced human sacrifice ü Most important god sacrifice by leaving on top of their was the Sun God victims on top of the temples ü The Emperor was Andes Mountains the High Priest (many mummified ü Human sacrifice naturally) ü Practiced mummification of the Emperor

Some Aztec Gods Tlaloc was the rain god. The tears of children were sacred to the god, so he required child sacrifice. Tonatiuh was the sun god. Quetzalcoatl “the Feathered Serpent” was the god of knowledge.

Inti, Incan Sun God

Aztec Temple of the Moon

Incan Mummies These young girls were left to die on top of the Andes mountains as sacrifices to the Incan gods. Due to the cold and dry climate, their bodies became preserved. The Inca intentionally mummified their Emperors. The Emperor mummy would be dressed and fed! Unfortunately the Spanish conquistadors destroyed most of the Emperor mummies.

V Economy and Agriculture Aztecs ü Built chinampas (floating artificial islands used to farm). ü Main crop was corn. Used cacao beans as currency. Similarities Corn was a staple crop Inca ü Terrace farming ü Main crops were potatoes and corn.

Aztec Chinampas

Inca Terrace Farming and Irrigation Canals

Aztec Aqueducts Carried Water

Pre- Columbian Yums By treating corn with lye, you can digest more of the nutrients in the corn. You can then make the flour into tortillas, tamales, and other goodies! The Mayans and Aztecs made cocoa beans into a frothy drink, with cinnamon and chili pepper. No sugar! Roasted guinea pig – an Incan delicacy!

VI Science and Technology Aztecs üUsed hieroglyphics (different from the Mayan) and codices (books made of wood bark) ü 2 calendars (one was just for religious ceremonies, similar to the Mayan) Similarities Inca üDid NOT have üQuipu: Knotted the wheel colored strings that were used as a counting system (see below) üBuilt bridges of rope across rivers & mountains üBuilt a road system connecting the empire across the Andes! üBuilt Machu Pichu, a city high in the Andes. üDomesticated llamas

Aztec Calendar and Writing Above is an Aztec sun calendar. Notice the Sun God Tonatiuh in the center. His tongue is waiting sacrificial human blood. An Aztec Codex: Most codices (books) were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors

Incan Quipu and Rope Bridges

Machu Pichu

Summary Questions 1. How did the Aztecs and Inca adapt to their environments? 2. Compare and contrast Aztec civilization with the earlier Maya civilization. *Include geography, government, achievements, and religion. 3. Compare and contrast the Aztecs and the Inca. *Include geography, government, achievements, and religion.

Key Vocabulary ü Andes mountains ü Aztecs ü Chinampas ü Cusco ü Inca ü Lake Texcoco ü Lake Titicaca ü Machu Pichu ü Pre-Columbian ü Quipu ü Slash and burn ü Tenochtitlan ü Terrace farming ü Yucatan Peninsula