The Americas Aztec Golden age lasted between 1440-1521 Inca -Golden age lasted between 1438-1532 Maya -Golden age spanned between 300A.D. -900A.D.
Inca Geography -Sentered in Cuzco, Peru. -Stretched along the western coast of south America -Separated from the world by the Andes mountains -Empire stretched 2,500 miles long
Aztec geography -Middle of Mexico valley. -created their own land by filling in lakes with cut down trees and filling it with wood -surrounded by mountains (natural barrier) -spread along the gulf of Mexico, reached to south Guatemala
Mayan geography -usually divided into 3 different zones, the southern highlands, the central lowlands and the northern lowlands -the south and the lowlands were dominated by thick rainforest.
Inca religion -duality of cosmos, the upper and lower realms -ukhu pachu and hurin pacha realms of pachamama or earth mother Apu Inti
Mayan religion -Based on nature and how nature works together -on of the most sophisticated cultures in western hemisphere. -buried their afterlife under their homes. Chaac, rain deity.
Aztec religion -centered around human sacrifice for many festivals -upper and nether realms, each associated with a specific set of deities -built temples to be closer to gods.
Inca achievements -every style of head-weaving -massive and impressive road system -artistic poetry -smelted and cast metals into trumpets, bells etc.
Aztec achievements -created a game called volador, flying bird game. -chinampas, floating gardens -causeways and bridges that linked to other islands of their capital -written language -popcorn
Mayan achievements -long count calender -masters of astronomy, agriculture, engineering and communications. -pyramids and tall temples.
Mayan politics. -independent city states. -linked by trade, political alliances and tribute obligations.
Inca politics -Aristocracy, meaning that a few wealthy nobles ruled the rest of the society -Organized into a pyramid type fashion with the Sapa inca or king was at the top followed by nobles, skilled craftsmen, laborers and lastly slaves -16 men in the supreme court, which was in turn divided into 4 quarters or Apus with men from varied positions in the court
Aztec politics -Made up of a bunch of city states known as altepetl. -Each altepetl was ruled by a supreme leader and a supreme judge/administrator. -Conquered tribes were part of the empire but were able to govern themselves besides having foreign policy laws and annual tributes to tenochtitlan
Mayan Economics -Didn t actually have a common currency and used a barter system instead - Used cacao beans, copper bells, marine shells and jade beads
Aztec economics -Mainly agriculture and trade. -Gold/jade statuettes. -Used cocoa beans as currency.
Inca Economics -Used a barter system. -Traded excess crops. -used cacao beans as main currency
Inca social structure -Strict hierarchical structure with the King or Sapi inca at the top -Noble were just under the king that consisted of priests, Generals, and special types of merchants -Under the nobles were farmers and craftsmen, the farmers were given land from the king but they had to turn in taxes, work in temples and on construction projects
Mayan social structure -Highly divided between nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves -The noble class was complex and specialized and jobs passed down through their lineage -Commoners work as farmers, laborers and servants -Surfs worked land that belonged to the ruler or town leader -Made slaves due to crimes against the empire or because they failed to pay taxes
Aztec social structure -Has 4 strict social classes -Nobles consisted of government and military leaders, high level priests and lords -Commoners consisted of farmers, artisans, merchants and low level priests\ -Serfs and slaves worked on land or in households owned my nobles, commoners were not allowed to have slaves
Multiple choice question 1 What type of objects did the Maya and Inca both use as its main currency? A. Gold B. Cacao beans C. Maize/Corn D. Human hearts
Multiple choice question 2 When did the Mayan Golden age start? A. 300 A.D. B. 300 B.C. C. 900 A.D D. 600 B.C.
Multiple choice question 3 What is the Mayan rain deity? A. Rah B. Chaac C. Abraham D. Poseidon