Ch 21 The Americas Flashcards
Where were the Toltecs?
Mexico, 30 miles north of Mexico City in
What is the background of the Toltecs?
After the collapse of Teotihuacan, it had extensive access to water from the Tula River, Had lots of agricultural production from that. They had fortresses to protect them from invasions and became wealthy.
Describe the decline of the Toltecs
invasion by the city of Tula wiped them out.
Where were the Mexica/Aztecs from? Where did they settle?
Were from Northwestern Mexico but settled in Central Mexico
What was Tenochtitian?
The Mexica/Aztecs made this island their capital. Present day Mexico City.
What are chinampas?
The Mexica dredged a rich and fertile muck from the bottom of a lake nearby and built it into small plots of land for agriculture
Why did the Mexica/Aztecs launch military campaigns?
Was to exact tribute from subject peoples
How did the Mexica/Aztecs control subjects through tributes?
Mexica and their allies simply con-
queried their subjects and assessed tribute, leaving local
governance and the collection of tribute in the hands
of the conquered peoples.
With regard to Mexica/Aztecs, What was the social hierarchy of:
Warriors?
Women?
Priests?
Cultivators/slaves?
Artisans/merchants?
Warriors were treated best; received extensive land grants and tributes granted by them.
Women played very little role in society, they had an influence on motherhood and homemaking. Highly respected if you were a mother of a warrior.
Priests also ranked among the elite just like warriors. Religion was considered crucial for the continuation of the world.
The cultivators were the commoners they worked on lands awarded to aristocrats or prominent warriors. The slaves made up a large number of populations, were servants and NOT foreigners, and were a part of the Mexica.
The artisans enjoyed considerable prestige in Mexica society b/c they made things for elite. Merchants were a little less looked upon b/c they did not hold very important positions.
Describe Mexica/Aztec religion
Polytheistic; Two of their
principal gods—Tezcatlipoca and
Quetzalcoatl. Sacrificed people for the sun god, so the sun will continue to rise.
Where were the Pueblo and Navajo located geographically?
In what is now the America South-west
What is the background of the Pueblo and Navajo?
Lived off own agriculture by tapping into river waters. Due to high heat and dry air, it led to famine and drought.
Where were the Iroquois located geographically?
in the woodlands east of the Missis-
sippi River. (Ohio, parts of NewYork)
What is the background of the Iroquois?
Based around large-scale agriculture. Men took care of hunting, fishing, and war while women stayed bag and watched the villages.
Where were the Mound-Builders located geographically?
the eastern half of North America.
What is the background of the Mound-Builders?
built huge mounds to live in and for military use and protection
Where were the Incas from geographically? Where did they settle?
We’re on the Peruvian coast and settled more up north on Lake Titicaca.
What type of gov/society did the Incas have?
Bureaucratic style gov. class organized society and military focused.
What is quipa?
an ancient Inca device for recording information, consisting of variously colored threads knotted in different ways.
What was the purpose of Incan roads?
Used as a big communication pathway and for messengers, also used to dispatch large military forces rapidly to distant trouble spots.
What was trade like for the Incas? What type of economy did they have?
No large-scale trade within borders. They relied on labor and taxation for the economy.
Explain the hereditary aristocracy
Power was passed on normally by heredity
With regard to the Incas, what was the purpose of peasants?
Men worked land owned by gov. also had to pay taxes. Women worked hard at home during the day.
Explain Incan religion
