MesoAmerica
• Maya, then Aztecs = dominant civilizations
• Built on the foundation of earlier civilizations eg: Olmec (the big head people)– Maize– Ball games– Temple pyramids/ritual human sacrifice– Astronomy/calendar
Maya• Height – 600CE-900CE
• Culturally united---
(NOT POLITICALLY)– City-states– Polytheistic– Nobles/Priests = elite class– Innovative agriculture b/c of poor soil
(chinampas, terraces, irrigation)– Glyph writing/zero– Downfall? Overtaxed environment, internal
warfare
Political Control in Maya City-States
• Political authority rested with Kings who were closely intertwined with priests and religion
• Blood-letting rituals were performed by Kings (believed to retain the city-state’s connection to the gods; comparable with China’s idea of the Emperor performing rituals for his ancestors)
Aztecs• Height – 1300CE-1500CE• A true, united Empire• Invading conquerors from N. Mexico• Tenochtitlan – capital w/Emperor• Important families controlled outlying areas• Conquered people had to give tribute• Complex social hierarchy (nobles, priests, etc.)• Blood-letting remained an important political
ritual• Human sacrifice, often – used to control
population which had been conquered
Inca 1400s-1500s• South America (Andes
Mts.)• Also a true united empire• Military expansionists• Governed territory of over
2,500 miles• Used the delightful Llama
(pack animal only)• Farmed potatoes on
terraces• God-kings =
intermediaries b/t heaven and earth
Social Hierarchy• Aristocrats lived privileged lives (fine
foods, embroidered clothes, and large ears spools)
• Inca often integrated conquered elites into their empire’s elite to keep them happy
Inca ear spoolsAKA: Fancy
gauges
Cuzco• Capital city• Connected to outlying areas by 16,000
miles of roads• Royal family members ruled outlying
areas• Tribute state - $$ to Cuzco, emperor
ensured everyone had what they needed = a redistributive economy
• Gov’t control – trade, labor, detailed census, centralized econ, etc.
• Taxes often paid in labor (called mit’a)
• Mit’a labor used to create huge terrace, irrigation, and water-control systems
• Labor groups – allyu = extended
family organized groups (used b/c of crazy terrain)
• NO writing – used qipus!
Labor and Taxes
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