The Developments of the Inca and Aztec Empires During the 15th century, there were two leading empires of Mesoamerica. The Inca Empire, which was located in what is now Peru and the Aztecs, whose area was located in what is now Mexico. Both the Aztec and Inca empires were advanced civilizations with a good economy, agricultural developments, and religious practices that spread across the region of Mesoamerica. Initially, farming was difficult for the Incas, because of their geography and climate. Since they were located in the Andes Mountains, it was hard to find flat land to farm on. Although, the development of terraces fixed this issue. In document 3, the author states that roughly 2 million acres of farmland covered the Incan Empire. Then, in document 2 the author describes the Incas achievements about their agricultural developments. The King insisted on making irrigation canals to produce more corn, because it was their leading crop and with the use of irrigation, they were …show more content…
They honored their gods, and did rituals to honor them. The Aztecs for example honored Huitzilopochtli, or the sun god through human sacrifices. Usually prisoners, were sacrificed to please the gods, so they could receive their blessings in return. This could have ranged from good health to receiving good weather. The Incas did human sacrifices too, and they would sacrifice noble children or the virgins of the sun. In a video, ¨Virgins of the Sun¨, the author teaches us that the children and parents viewed being sacrificed as a privilege. The Incas believed the children would sacrifice their lives to later be guardians of their society. Both of these empires took their faith seriously, and respected all their deities. The only reasoning behind these practices is because they were motivated by religion. Both Empires didn't want to disappoint their deities, but instead wanted to praise them to get something in
The Aztec empire was located in central Mexico. In approximately 1200 A.D. is when the civilization was started. Their capital was the city called Tenochtitlan. Their economy wasn’t very good in the beginning. The Aztecs weren’t able to support themselves since their village was so small. The Aztecs did their farming in a method of agriculture called chinampa. This was a method of agriculture used throughout all of Mesoamerica. Soon their population grew began to grow. Their economy depended on the areas that were surrounding them because they still couldn’t fully support themselves. Most of the Aztec’s population were farmers and another good part of their economy depended on the extensive trade of important luxury items. Their
After landing on the coast of Mexico in the early 1500’s in what is now Veracruz, Cortés caught word of the possibility of much wealthier land if he were only willing to travel more inland. The Aztec empire centered around it’s powerful capital city of Tenochtitlán, and Cortés wanted it for himself and Spain. After arriving in the great city he said to have gasped at the sight of the large buildings, beautiful design, and overall substance. While the accounts written by him and his men are the only known surviving writings of the late empire, we are able to get a pretty clear glimpse into its beauty by the way he spoke. Built on a sizeable lake, the Tenochtitlán was only assessable by four very large bridges. Cortés was quite impressed by the way in which 10 of his men could ride side by side while crossing. The actual size of the city was not what impressed him most, seeing as it was comparable to the city of Seville that he had seen at home, but instead he found it intriguing how the people had developed roads that worked around the grand body of water.
This was a new farming technique where they were able to grow corn, tomatoes, beans, squash and peppers. This gave the Aztecs a wonderful food supply, which helped the population of the Aztecs grow rapidly. Once the Aztecs started growing wealth through trade, they started using conquest to conquer other city-states and gain more wealth.
What were the sources of strength and prosperity and of problems for the Incas as they created their enormous empire?
The Aztec people built gardens and stored a surplus of food and had food for 5 years. The Inca Empire too built storage houses full of food for the struggling poor and for the military troops. This was achievable through the development of a successful road system that was used to transport goods safely and faster, military troops also used this to get to their locations. A vertical economy was established in the valleys of the Andes Mountains. Since the Inca Empire included a variety of climates and resources, each region had it's advantages of producing different foods and goods resulting in economic diversity.
The Aztec and Inca Empires had similarities and differences that contributed to their individual successes. Each Empire had different origins yet the both grew and became powerful Empires. The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica, originated in the valley in Mexico and began as nomadic people, moving from place to place until their powerful neighbors drove them away. Around 1325 A.D. they came upon a valley in Mexico and settled around the surrounding lakes. The Aztecs built the capital, Tenochtitlan, on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, and started to rapidly expand.
The Aztec and Incan civilizations had more advantages and disadvantages over one another. The Aztec Empire developed in modern-day Mexico in the 1350s to 1520s CE and were known for their large military power, and for creating conflict with other peoples. The Inca Empire developed in the Andes Mountains and from the 1500s to the 1630s CE and were known for Machu Picchu. They each carried different aspects of PERSIA that helped them make strong and sustainable empires. The Aztecs and Inca were complex religiously, politically, and geographically, but overall the Inca were a more sustainable civilization because of their religious and political advantages.
We are the Mexica, but are now known as the Aztec. We are the indigenous people of the Valley of Mexico, rulers of the Aztec empire. We were strong and dominant and worked as mercenary soldier; hired professional militias who fought for other groups. We use to live in Aztlan before we made our journey and founded our new home Tenochtitlan. The legend of finding our territory starts from an order we received from a vision from our central deity, Huitzilopochtli.
The Aztecs were a very powerful ethnic group. They had an emperor, and nobles. Nobles who were basically slaves, labor workers that seemed to do all the work for the emperors. They would build cities, that would assist the Aztecs.
The Incan Empire was the largest empire in the 16th century in South America. The capital was Cusco and the civilization had expand from the west coast of South America, modern day Ecuador, Boilivia, Argentia, and expanded to Peru. The government style was similar to that of socialism. The empire was divided into four provincial governments: Chinchasyu, Antisuyu, Kuntisuyu, and Qullasuyu. Inca Pachacuti had founded the empire and unite all of the kingdoms together. The thrown was then inherited by his decendent, but once the Spanish had reached South America the empire fell. Francisco Pizarro led the spanish into the empire and manipulated the two ruling emperors which then hed him to his victory. After capturing one of the emperors, Pizarro
The Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans all held similar qualities but had their own defining differences as well. The Aztecs live in Central America, Mexico from 1200 to 1521 with their capitol located in Tenochtitlan. The Mayans lived in Central America from 400B.C. to 1517 A.D. with their capitals being tikal, Chichen Itza, Copan, Palenque, and Mayapan. The Inca lived in South America during 1200 to 1572 with their capital in Cuzco. While the Mayans existed much longer than either the Incas or the Aztecs, all three were located in the Americas.
The Aztec empire covered all of western mexico and consisted of several tribal groups. Priest used prisoners taken from these tribes and used were greatly feared. 22 April 1519 the Totanic indians explained the riches to be found in the city near mexico. Montezuma was to get along with them. The aztec’s agreed to be led by Cortez. Cortez continued the route and although they were loved they caused massacre's. Nevertheless all sides were closely on guard and trapped all the men in the city. June 30th 1520 is when they managed to escape from him. The city was taken and destroyed. Afterwards the Spanish took the empire and systematically conquered all of Mexico leading to a standard increase of people and cultural teachings.
Throughout 250-1533 CE there were two Central and one South American Empires. These Empires are known as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. First were the Mayas that ruled in south- eastern Mexico from 250 to 900 CE. Then, there were the Aztecs that ruled in southern Mexico from 1200 to 1521. Then in South America there were the Incas that ruled along the Andes Mountains from 1438 to 1533.
1. Where were the Aztecs located and what did they name their city? Insert a map of the city’s location above your response.
The Inca empire is considered by many to be the most successful empire in the history of South America. They were a people who built an empire along the west coast of South America. It flourished for about a hundred years through some of the 13th and 14th centuries until they were conquered by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. One way that they were able to progress to such an extent is through their long and advanced road system, which itself flourished in many ways. It aided in connecting the empire and allowed it to progress far in a relatively short time. The road system thrived because of its vast length, sustainability and efficiency, messaging and rest systems, and the bridges used to cross otherwise untraversable gaps.