Aztec & Inca Empires:Aztec & Inca Empires:ComparedCompared

Aztecs 1200s to 1520sAztecs 1200s to 1520s

Inca 1430s to 1530sInca 1430s to 1530s

Aztec & Inca EmpiresAztec & Inca Empires

Were both based Were both based on earlier on earlier civilizations and civilizations and cultures.cultures.

Were originally Were originally clan based.clan based.

Aztec & Inca EmpiresAztec & Inca Empires

Were based on Were based on managing resources, managing resources, goods, and people in goods, and people in an economy centered an economy centered on intensive on intensive agriculture.agriculture.

Were based on the Were based on the conquest of other conquest of other groups and the groups and the extraction of some extraction of some form of tribute.form of tribute.

Aztec & Inca EmpiresAztec & Inca Empires

Conquered local rulers were allowed Conquered local rulers were allowed some freedom to rule their territories in some freedom to rule their territories in their own way if loyalty and tribute their own way if loyalty and tribute continued.continued.

Sons of conquered groups were brought Sons of conquered groups were brought to the capital for “education.”to the capital for “education.”

RULERSRULERS

AZTECAZTEC Ruled by warrior-Ruled by warrior-

kings seen as divinekings seen as divine

Absolute power of Absolute power of ruler-like other ruler-like other emperors in historyemperors in history

RULERSRULERS

INCA INCA Ruled by Ruled by

theocracy– sun-god theocracy– sun-god king whose reign king whose reign continuedcontinued

MummificationMummification

Absolute power of Absolute power of ruler-like other ruler-like other emperors in historyemperors in history

RULERSRULERS

AZTEC & INCAAZTEC & INCA Wars to gain tribute or captives were Wars to gain tribute or captives were

led by rulers.led by rulers.

Army (warriors) was the power-base Army (warriors) was the power-base and nobility. The leading nobles ran and nobility. The leading nobles ran the government.the government.

WARRIORSWARRIORS

AZTECAZTEC Primitive?Primitive? Purpose of battle Purpose of battle

was to obtain was to obtain captives.captives.

WARRIORSWARRIORS

INCAINCA Primitive?Primitive? Purpose was to kill Purpose was to kill

or take captives.or take captives.

AZTEC EXPANSION

Running & Controlling the EmpireRunning & Controlling the Empire

AZTEC & INCAAZTEC & INCA Armies held the empire together.Armies held the empire together.

Forced regions to pay tribute.Forced regions to pay tribute.

Running & Controlling the EmpireRunning & Controlling the Empire

AZTECAZTEC Forced regions to Forced regions to

pay tribute in pay tribute in “stuff.”“stuff.”

INCAINCA Forced regions to Forced regions to

pay tribute in pay tribute in “labor” (mita) on “labor” (mita) on state lands and state lands and “stuff”.“stuff”.

Land was divided into Land was divided into lands for people, lands for people, state, and sun.state, and sun.

Running the EmpireRunning the Empire

AZTECAZTEC Did not directly Did not directly

administer or administer or control territories.control territories.

INCAINCA Divided conquered Divided conquered

territory, each with territory, each with a governor.a governor.

Sent out colonists, Sent out colonists, controlled building controlled building and irrigation and irrigation projects, enlisted projects, enlisted conquered people conquered people in the military.in the military.

EconomicsEconomics

AZTEC & INCAAZTEC & INCA Agriculture basedAgriculture based

Maize, beans, (llamas?)Maize, beans, (llamas?)

No banking, money or credit systemNo banking, money or credit system

EconomicsEconomics

AZTECAZTEC Tribute economyTribute economy

Free market trade Free market trade was important – was important – central markets central markets were regulated.were regulated.

INCAINCA Tribute economy.Tribute economy.

The government The government redistributed most redistributed most goods.goods.

COMPARE AZTECs and INCAsCOMPARE AZTECs and INCAs

Now it’s your turn. Compare the Aztecs Now it’s your turn. Compare the Aztecs and Incas in terms of their:and Incas in terms of their:

ReligionReligion Social Classes and Gender Social Classes and Gender

RolesRoles Achievements and Achievements and

Advancements Advancements (Intellectual, Technological, Scientific)(Intellectual, Technological, Scientific)