Aztec – 1200CE – 1500CE
Political –
1. Outstanding warriors, controlled most of modern day Mexico
2. Tribute system – convinced people to give them gold, supplies, slaves, etc. In return, the Aztecs would not invade them
3. Monarch (single ruler) – similar to a king or queen
4. Ruler said to have been related to gods to justify their control
5. Slavery
6. Elaborate system of roads
Social –
1. Several different classes – rulers, nobles or elites, farmers, and slaves
2. Women and Men had different roles in society
3. Women did have some rights, they could own property, work outside the house
4. Slavery
5. Polytheism – religion that involved many gods
6. Practiced Human Sacrifice as part of religion to make the gods happy
What happened to them? Defeated by Hernan Cortes, a Spanish Conquistador (conqueror) in the 1520’s, by guns and disease
Mayan – 300 CE -900 CE
Political –
1. City-States that were often at war with each other
2. Cities of near or over 100,000 people
3. Slaves used for Human Sacrifice
4. Rulers claimed to be related to gods to justify control
5. Sophisticated writing systems used to write many advanced books
Social –
1.
2.
3.
4.
Several classes in society, mostly made up of farmers
Human Sacrifice as a way to make gods happy
Polytheism
Advanced Calendar
What happened to them? No one really knows! Historians and scientists think it could have been invasion, natural disasters, or a
drought that led to starvation.
Incan 1200 CE – 1535 CE
Political1. Empire was around 12 million people before their decline
2. All men required to serve in the military
3. Army of over 200,000 members
4. Well organized empire divided into 4 sections each with a governor
5. Each of those sections was divided into provinces, who had lesser governors that ruled them
6. Elaborate road system with bridges (even suspension bridges)
Social –
1. Different roles for men an women
2. Lots of farming in rural areas
3. Irrigation systems that allowed very successful farming
4. Elaborate architecture
5. Polytheism
6. System of record keeping called quipu that allowed for a very accurate record of supplies, military size and movement, and
food.
7. Had public theater, along with poetry and music
What happened to them? Defeated by Spanish Explorer Franciso Pizarro in 1530s. Disease was the main destroyer of the Incans,
along with guns and steel weapons.
Map of Incan Road systems. In total it is
estimated there were around 25,000
miles of road, enough to circle the entire
earth at its widest point