Americas Flashcards
Maya
Location
Central america, lower part of mexico. Dominated the Yukatan peninsula. Kaminaljuya is near guatemala city. Settles in wetter, lower lands and built terraces to trap silt to make sure they planted in good nitrate rich areas.
Maya
Intellectual achievements
Invented the idea of zero. Had a 356 day calendar and a 260 day calendar for their gods. When they met at a point was when major change happened, every 52 years. Had pictograph/syllable writing. Combination of gods determine the character of the day, what kinds of sacrifices and rituals, ect.
May
Farming innovation
made Terraces to capture silt to make sure they planted in good nitrate rich areas. Maize, cotton for textiles, cacao- consumed by nobles and sometimes used in sacrifices- become currency
Mayan Religion
Polytheistic Nature gods. Their gods made them from Maize and water, which is why Maize is so importnat. Gods demand blood sacrifices, blood from priests and sacrifices.
Aztec
Location
Teotihuacan was the largest city in Mesoamerica. It was located in the middle of Lake Texcoco. Made it easy to defend. Canals brought trade which was protected by warrior patrols just like caravanserai and the silk roads.
Aztec
Conquest
Mexica tribe was powerful enough to overcome neighbors and demand tribute. Imperial expansion was through the military. Wanted blood sacrifices as tribute and warriors were put on a status based on how many people they capture for sacrifice. Tenochtitlan created alliance with neighboring tribes which built up the Aztec Empire. Men must fight.
Aztec Administration
Decentralized rule, opposite of China nad closer to India. There was no elaborate Bureacracy. Local governments rule and are responsible of submitting tribute to the empire. Tribute system was the main objective of an alliance. The more they get brought, the more wealthy and prestigious they were. Cacao beans were used as as currency. Had codex, a way to keep records of payment.
Aztec Religion
Legend is that Quetzalcoatl will come save the day, ultimately leading to their downfall when Cortez arrived. Their nature gods adapted; sun god, and river god were very important. Had a complicated calendar based on the solar year; 365 days, and ritual year, 260 days, just like the Maya. Constant need of sacrifices is the reason they conquer so many people around them. The bods demand blood. Priests performed self sacrifice. People would watch some get their hearts ripped out on the aztec temple steps
Farming innovation for Aztecs
Had rich agricultural lands because of the Chinampas. Piled super fertile much from the lake to form islands great for irrigation canals. Mazie cannot be flooded, so that is why these were built. Had lots of fish, frogs, and birds.
Tenochtitlan
Created an alliance with neighboring tribes, resulting in a population of 12 million people. It was how they built the Aztec empire.
Inca Location
Far up in the mountains of Peru and Chile (Cuzco). Made temples and extension roads and canals without writing, written language, wheels, or horses. Settled in a valley.
Incan Conquest
Their small kingdom was about to be overrun, but Pachacuti expanded rule through the andes mountains. There were four quarters so four rulers. There wasn’t much to conquer since they were alone in the andes mountains. Forced conquered people to fight in army which is different from Aztecs who don’t trust them.
Incan Administration
Ruled by a rotating group of 10 families. Nobles act as bureacrats on land that belongs to their family. Implemented taxes to support incan rulers. They had storehouses to stock agricultural supplies and textiles. There was not a lot of trade because everything belonged to the Incan’s. Everything goes to the emperor and then redistirbuted. Scatter trouble makers throughout empire, similar to the Song Dynasty with shinshi, and mongols who scattered different groups of people around to other places where they benefit. Teach children Incan language. Quipu was a serious of knots tied on bands to track taxes, population, state property, ect.
Incan religion
Ancestor veneration and a vested interest in emperors to exand to the afterlife. Intermediaries to the gods. Must keep them happy and in your life. They are not blood thirsty gods. Dead keep their wealth and land in death, so they made communal tumes. Sun god is highest in pantheon. Main pyramid is dedicated to Init. Had worshipers at Cuzco, but was different than the aztecs. Aztecs were always under threat of war while the Inca’s were not.
Farming innovation of the Inca
Coca was a stimulant in high thin air of the andes mountains that helped to settle the stomach and altitude poisoning. They had llamas and alpacas. They had the waru waru system, terrace farming. Captures rain for droughts in trenches and retains heat during the winter. Uses stone walls and carved out topiaries to help them. Harvested potatoes in every shape and color. Staple in their diet.
