Maya Aztec and Inca Civilizations PreColumbian Society in

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations Pre-Columbian Society in North and South America

Meso. America • Maya, then Aztecs = dominant civilizations • Built on the foundation of earlier civilizations eg: Olmec (the big head people) – Maize – Ball games – Temple pyramids/ritual human sacrifice – Astronomy/calendar

Aztecs – green Maya - brown

Maya • Height – 600 CE-900 CE • Culturally united--(NOT POLITICALLY) – City-states – Polytheistic – Nobles/Priests = elite class – Innovative agriculture b/c of poor soil (chinampas, terraces, irrigation) – Glyph writing/zero – Downfall? Overtaxed environment, internal warfare

Political Control in Maya City. States • Political authority rested with Kings who were closely intertwined with priests and religion • Blood-letting rituals were performed by Kings (believed to retain the city-state’s connection to the gods; comparable with China’s idea of the Emperor performing rituals for his ancestors)

Maya – Tikal

Writing Styles

• • Aztecs Height – 1300 CE-1500 CE A true, united Empire Invading conquerors from N. Mexico Tenochtitlan – capital w/Emperor Important families controlled outlying areas Conquered people had to give tribute Complex social hierarchy (nobles, priests, etc. ) • Blood-letting remained an important political ritual • Human sacrifice, often – used to control population which had been conquered

Inca 1400 s-1500 s • South America (Andes Mts. ) • Also a true united empire • Military expansionists • Governed territory of over 2, 500 miles • Used the delightful Llama (pack animal only) • Farmed potatoes on terraces • God-kings = intermediaries b/t heaven and earth

Social Hierarchy • Aristocrats lived privileged lives (fine foods, embroidered clothes, and large ears spools) • Inca often integrated conquered elites into their empire’s elite to keep them happy Inca ear spools AKA: Fancy gauges

Cuzco • Capital city • Connected to outlying areas by 16, 000 miles of roads • Royal family members ruled outlying areas • Tribute state - $$ to Cuzco, emperor ensured everyone had what they needed = a redistributive economy • Gov’t control – trade, labor, detailed census, centralized econ, etc.

• Taxes often paid in labor (called mit’a) • Mit’a labor used to create huge terrace, irrigation, and watercontrol systems • Labor groups – allyu = extended family organized groups (used b/c of crazy terrain) • NO writing – used qipus! Labor and Taxes

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