The Americas on the Eve of
Invasion
Civilizations in the Americas
• Created thriving civilizations
– Political organization
– Advanced math, astronomy
– Agricultural techniques
– Population growth and urbanization
– Social Stratification
– Developed economies & trade
• Important Civilizations:
– Maya, Aztec, Inca
Maya
• Tropical Climate, poor soil
• Variety of ag. techniques depending on
environment
– Slash & burn (aka swidden agriculture)
– Drain swamps for land
– terracing
• Government:
– Series of rival kingdoms w/ hereditary rulers
• Rulers serve both political & religious function
Maya Empire
http://www.adishakti.org/images_foreign/mayamap_L.gif
Maya
• Religion
– 3 layer cosmos (underworld, human world,
heavens)
– Close tie b/t warfare and religion
• Rituals & fasting before war
• Use of war to gain captives
– Many used for human sacrifice; others for labor
– Bloodletting, tattooing, painting of skin
– Elaborately decorated temples
Maya
• Science/Technology
– Sophisticated calendar-making
– Hieroglyphic writing system
– Concept of zero in mathematics
Maya
• Collapse of the Maya
– Cities abandoned between 800 and 900
– Possible reasons
• Disease
• Decline in trade (likely associated with fall of
Teotihuacán)
• Environmental degradation
• Decline in agricultural production
• Internal warfare
Aztec
Mexica (Meh-she-ca)
• Moved into Central Mexico
• Began to buildup powerbase near Lake
Texcoco
• 1325: construction on Tenochtitlan & Tlateloco
– Twin capitals- Foundation of Mexico City
• Began to expand & create an empire
Aztec
http://www.plu.edu/~arnoldwp/img/aztec-empire.jpg
Aztec
• Government:
– Single ruler chosen by council of aristocrats
– Ruler chosen from royal family
– New rulers expected to engage in military
conquest to display their power
• Tie between war and religious ceremony
Aztec
• Social Structure:
– Social & economic inequality
– Little opportunity for social mobility
– Elites used ceremony & ritual to distinguish
themselves
• Better diet, richer clothing, nicer homes, different
marriage practices (ie. Commoners were
monogamous, elites polygamous)
Aztec
• Economy:
– Relied upon agriculture
• used chinampas (floating gardens) to increase ag.
– Tribute system supplied other goods to city
• Conquered peoples sent food, cloth, luxury items,
military equipment, and sacrificial victims to city
– Trade important
• Barter system
Aztec
• Religion:
– Polytheistic
– Twin temple dedicated to gods
– Extensive use of human sacrifice
• Thousands annually
• Both religious and political function
– Believed gods lived off human hearts and blood
– Public sacrifice helped deter rebellion and opposition
Andean Civilizations
• In South America, a series of cultures
grew in a most unlikely place
– Harsh environment
• Mountains (Andes)
• Desert along west coast (Atacama)
• Rainforest to the east
• Andean civilizations typically followed the
same plan for organization of society and
the economy
Andean Civilization
• Economy:
– Eac state was organized in a system known as mitá
• System required communities to contribute workers to
perform various forms of labor
• Colonies were also sent out to exploit resources in the area
– Used various ag. techniques to improve productivity
• Irrigation, terracing, etc.
– All goods produced were then brought together for
exchange
• Use of quipu to keep records
– Series of knotted colored cords
http://www.orquidea.net/peru_travel_center/inca_empire.jpg
Inca
• The Inca began as a chiefdom; expands
its power in the 1430’s
– Developed an imperial state in the Andes
Mountains of South America
– By 1525, population of over 6 million
• Capital: Cuzco (Peru)
http://www.anntravelcorp.com/fotos/p000001_
cuzco%20anntravel.jpg
Machu Picchu
City constructed at height of Inca Empire
Inca
• Buildup of military
• Government:
– Rulers began reign with military conquest to
prove their power
• Created a bureaucracy composed of rulers
kinsmen
– Military conquest
• Left local rulers of conquered peoples in place
– Heirs of the rulers taken hostage to ensure cooperation
Inca
• Achievements of the Inca:
– Skilled at stone work
– Cuzco constructed to look like a Mountain
Lion
• Palaces and temples
• Temple of the Sun
– Astronomical observation conducted by
priests
– Calendar-making
Inca
• Highly structured, government-regulated
economy led to prosperity
• However, imperial system created a system of
inequality
• 1525: Stage is set for European conquest when
the Inca were weakened by internal division
– Ruler died, triggering a power struggle between his
two sons
– Civil war weakens the Inca
• Making them vulnerable to Europeans