2 American Peoples

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American PeoplesAmerican Peoples

LAH 2020, Spring 2010LAH 2020, Spring 2010


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Middle America Middle America

MESOAMERICAMESOAMERICA

AZTECS Mexica 1519AZTECS Mexica 1519

Central Valley of MexicoCentral Valley of Mexico

Settled in an island in the middle ofSettled in an island in the middle ofLake Texcoco, founded TenochtitlnLake Texcoco, founded Tenochtitln

Aztecs dominated most of MexicoAztecs dominated most of Mexicosouth of Tenochtitlnsouth of Tenochtitln


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Political organizationPolitical organization

city-statescity-states

Political power centered on aPolitical power centered on a

ruling class of priests andruling class of priests andnobles, presided by the supremenobles, presided by the supremerulerruler

TlatoaniTlatoani[title] supreme leader[title] supreme leaderof Mexicaof Mexica


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LanguageLanguage

Common language NahuatlCommon language Nahuatl

Writing system pictographsWriting system pictographs


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Economic baseEconomic base

Intensive agriculture; irrigationIntensive agriculture; irrigationsystem highly sophisticatedsystem highly sophisticated

Elaborate system of dykes, canals,Elaborate system of dykes, canals,and aqueducts for agricultureand aqueducts for agriculture

ChinampaChinampa raised fields surrounded raised fields surroundedby water agriculture form borrowedby water agriculture form borrowedfrom the Mayasfrom the Mayas

Surplus used for military purposes, inSurplus used for military purposes, in

case of famine, or natural disasterscase of famine, or natural disasters Social organizationSocial organization Specialization of labor; variousSpecialization of labor; various

occupations and skillsoccupations and skills


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Economic base continuedEconomic base continued

Market exchanges barterMarket exchanges barter Relied on tribute and trade for foodRelied on tribute and trade for food

needsneeds

Long distance trade carried out byLong distance trade carried out bypochtecapochteca traderstraders

MacehualtinMacehualtin commoners who owned commoners who ownedland, owed tribute, labor, and militaryland, owed tribute, labor, and militaryservice to the Aztec stateservice to the Aztec state

MayequesMayeques peasants, majority of Aztec peasants, majority of Aztecpopulationpopulation


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Agriculture andAgriculture andmanufacturemanufacture

Diet staples: maize, beans,Diet staples: maize, beans,chilies, squash, etc.chilies, squash, etc.

High value products: cottonHigh value products: cottoncloth, feathers, jade, preciouscloth, feathers, jade, preciousmetals, obsidian, animal skins,metals, obsidian, animal skins,cacao beans, etc.cacao beans, etc.


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Material cultureMaterial culture

Artisans skilled workers Artisans skilled workers potters, weavers, stonemasons,potters, weavers, stonemasons,

silversmiths, scribes, and feather-silversmiths, scribes, and feather-workersworkers

Organized in guildsOrganized in guilds

Monumental architecture Monumental architecture temples, palaces, ceremonialtemples, palaces, ceremonialarchitecturearchitecture


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ReligionReligion

Polytheistic societyPolytheistic society Two major gods: Tlaloc rain godTwo major gods: Tlaloc rain god

HUITZILOPOCHTLI war god majorHUITZILOPOCHTLI war god majorcult to this godcult to this god Human sacrifice war captivesHuman sacrifice war captives

sacrificed to Huitzilopochtlisacrificed to Huitzilopochtli

Function: to maintain order of theFunction: to maintain order of thecosmos; to justify military expansioncosmos; to justify military expansion(why they went to war)(why they went to war)


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Aztec worldviewAztec worldview

understanding of their world Aztecsunderstanding of their world Aztecsbelieved that sacrificed was essentialbelieved that sacrificed was essentialfor their survival as a society, for thefor their survival as a society, for the

Sun to rise the following day, so theySun to rise the following day, so theyjustified their wars of conquest (otherjustified their wars of conquest (otherethnic groups)ethnic groups)

Blood letting ritualsBlood letting rituals

Examples, piercing tongues, genitalsExamples, piercing tongues, genitals(similar to Maya ritual practices)(similar to Maya ritual practices) Sacrifice related to agricultural cycleSacrifice related to agricultural cycle


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INKA INCAINKA INCA

European contact - 1532European contact - 1532 Andean highlands, territory extendedAndean highlands, territory extended

some 4,000 Km. (est. 2,484 miles) fromsome 4,000 Km. (est. 2,484 miles) from

present southern Colombia (border topresent southern Colombia (border toEcuador) to central Chile andEcuador) to central Chile andnorthwestern Argentinanorthwestern Argentina

Achieved high growth circa 1440 AD,Achieved high growth circa 1440 AD,before European invasionbefore European invasion

Creation myth linked Inkas to LakeCreation myth linked Inkas to LakeTiticaca (southeast of Cusco)Titicaca (southeast of Cusco)


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TAWANTINSUYUTAWANTINSUYU

Land of the Four QuartersLand of the Four Quarters

Capital CuscoCapital Cusco

Quechua language of empireQuechua language of empire No written languageNo written language

KhipuKhipu(s) - mnemonic device, cords(s) - mnemonic device, cords

with knots memory aid to keepwith knots memory aid to keeprecords; register historical eventsrecords; register historical events


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Political powerPolitical power

organized under the supremeorganized under the supremeruler ruler Sapa InkaSapa Inka

Inka supreme ruler Inka supreme ruler Sapa InkaSapa Inka CoyaCoya Inka wife Inka wife

ustausta Inka princess Inka princess


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Economic baseEconomic base

Intensive agricultureIntensive agriculture

Irrigation canalsIrrigation canalsBuilt Andean terraces Built Andean terraces andenesandenes

to maximize use of available landto maximize use of available land

Tribute demands made by the InkaTribute demands made by the Inkafrom subject peoplesfrom subject peoples


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Basic staplesBasic staples

potatoes, various edible roots,potatoes, various edible roots, quinoaquinoa(cereal) in high altitude valleys;(cereal) in high altitude valleys;

maize at lower altitudes; cotton,maize at lower altitudes; cotton,beans, squash, coca leaves, etc.beans, squash, coca leaves, etc.

Wool from llamas, alpacas, vicuas,Wool from llamas, alpacas, vicuas,and guanacos; alpaca and vicuaand guanacos; alpaca and vicua

wool extremely valued in the Andeswool extremely valued in the Andes Storage facilities for potatoes, cerealsStorage facilities for potatoes, cereals


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LlamasLlamas

CharquiCharqui freeze-dried llama freeze-dried llamameatmeat

Llamas used as beasts ofLlamas used as beasts ofburden; source of fuelburden; source of fuel


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ReligionReligion

Polytheistic societyPolytheistic society

Sun god Sun god IntiInti

Moon goddess Moon goddess QuillaQuilla


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Ancestor worshipAncestor worship

Mummies of Inca rulers kept inMummies of Inca rulers kept inCuscoCusco

CoricanchaCoricancha Temple of the Sun Temple of the Sun located inside present-day Santolocated inside present-day SantoDomingo Convent in CuscoDomingo Convent in Cusco


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WakaWaka huacashuacas sacred space, sacred space,element of natureelement of nature

Rituals and religious practicesRituals and religious practices Sacrifice some human sacrifice,Sacrifice some human sacrifice,

not as common as innot as common as in

MesoamericaMesoamerica

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2 American Peoples