Kaleb Skelly

Mr. Adams

AP World History

22 October 2020

Inca Empire (1471-1532 AD)

A. Background

1. ‘Inca’ was the title of the rulers in the valley of Cuzco.

a. Those who spoke Quechua considered Inca

2. Inca ruler Parachuti “Earthshaker” expanded Inca authority using military

campaigns.

a. Population of 11.5 million at the height of power

b. Cuzco was capital – thought to be “navel of the universe”

3. The Inca Empire possessed a road system with no independent merchants allowed.

a. Inca administrators ran trading centers

b. Class system ranked in this order: rulers, aristocrats, priests, peasant cultivators

i. Ruler reigned as god descending from the sun

4. Inti was worshipped as the sun, the chief god, and Viracocha was viewed as the

creator of the world and life.

a. Natural world seen as divine

 b. Agricultural produce and animals were used for sacrifice

c. Religious ceremonies seeking penance for sins of the individual and

communities’ sins

Study Question: Compare and Contrast the Inca empire to one of the 4 classical empires already

studied.

The Inca Empire possesses salient similarities with the Indian Empire, in that both these

empires boasted a vast road system, valued good works, and were polytheistic.

 The Inca and Indian Empires utilized an immense road network. “The Inca had an

extensive road system with no independent merchants allowed” (Reader, 95). “Located

along the Silk Roads, the kingdoms of Bactria and Kush would be the most important of

these kingdoms… they were stable enough to ensure that trade continued on land routes”

(Reader, 86).

 The Inca and the Indian kingdoms also prized good works. “‘They believed in a life

beyond death, during which individuals would receive rewards or punishments based on

the quality of their earthly lives” (Reader, 95). “One of the most important things that the

Guptan dynasty achieved was the restoration of Hinduism as the dominant religion on the

subcontinent” (Reader, 86).

Aztec Empire (1345-1521)

A. Background

1. The Aztec Empire extended through present-day Mexico.

a. Tenochtitlan was capital city – central hub of activity

 b. Mexica were architects of Aztec in 15th century

c. Motecuzoma II/Montezuma (1500-1520) was ruler when Spanish arrived

2. Aztec society was intensely hierarchical.

a. Males from aristocratic or noble class were designed for military service

i. Rewarded for victory

b. Women prized for childbearing

i. Women received honor in death during child-birth

c. Priests, cultivators, artisans, merchants, and slaves also made up Aztec society

3. Two Primary Aztec gods were Tezcatlipoca (“the Smoking Mirror” who could give

and take life) and Quetzalcóatl (“the Feathered Serpent” who supported the

arts).

a. Sacrificial bloodletting was an Aztec religious practice

i. Bloodshed was thought to give the earth moisture for crop production

ii. This practice also encouraged self-sacrifice through piercing body parts

b. Aztecs preformed human sacrifices to the god, Huitzilopochtli, thinking it

would allow their world to survive

Study Question: Why do you think Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún wrote this account?

What was his purpose?

 Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún writes this account in order to aid the Europeans

in understanding the foreign culture of the Aztecs through illustrating the militaristic culture of

the Aztecs, revealing the Aztec boys’ path to manhood, and elucidating the hierarchy of the

Aztecs.

 Sahagún illuminates the militaristic ideals of the Aztecs. “‘Let them take you if, without

profit, once more you take a captive with the aid of others’” (Reader, 99).

 He also exemplifies the road to adulthood for the Aztec boy. “‘And if he took a captive

with the help of others, - perchance doing so with the aid of two, or three, or four, or of

five, or of six, at which point came to an end [the reckoning] that a captive was taken

with others’ help – then the lock of hair was removed’” (Reader, 99).

 Lastly, Sahagún untangles the complexities of the Aztec social order. “‘And then his

grandfather, or his beloved uncle, addressed him’” (Reader, 99).

Study Question: What does the account say about Aztec sons?

Sahagún’s account implies that Aztec sons were fierce warriors, due to the custom of

taking captives, the competition between the Aztec warriors, and the instruction administered to

the son by elders.

 Aztec warriors participated in the custom of capturing prisoners of war. “‘And this was

the division of their captive: in six parts it came’” (Reader, 99).

 Aztec warriors competed with one another for captives. “‘And if he took a captive with

the help of others, - perchance doing so with the aid of two, or three, or four, or of five, or

of six, at which point came to an end [the reckoning] that a captive was taken with others’

help – then the lock of hair was removed’” (Reader, 99).

  Aztec elders provided wisdom for the Aztec sons. “‘And then his grandfather, or his

beloved uncle, addressed him’” (Reader, 99).

Study Question: What do you think is the growing issue between the Spanish and the Aztecs?

The growing issue between the Spanish and the Aztecs is that both powers aspire to

dominate the other through treason, combat, and murder.

 The Aztecs attempted to treason in order to retain command of their empire. “‘His

[Moctezuma’s] ambassadors had guided us by way of Cholula, where they said the

people were his vassals, and for the first two days after our arrival the people treated us

well, but on the next day they had plotted treason with the intention of killing us’”

(Reader, 100).

 The Spanish believe that they might achieve superiority over the Aztecs through battle in

the open field. “‘We had inferred from his character that since his Idols had put such an

evil thought as making war on us into his head, he would surely fight us in the open

field’” (Reader, 100).

 Lastly, the Aztecs threatened murder of the Spaniards in order to attain victory. “‘The

answer which they gave was the same as the first, that he should allow us to enter and

that once inside the city he could kill us when he chose’” (Reader, 100).

Study Question: What did you learn about the Aztec society in Mexico?

The Aztec society in Mexico was immensely focused on the higher class due to the

respect the mighty Aztec lords demonstrated, the wealth bestowed on Moctezuma, and the

dignity that the Spaniards were forced to display to Moctezuma.

 The great Aztec lords who accompanied Moctezuma exhibited extreme reverence to their

king. “‘Not one of these chieftains dared even to think of looking him in the face, but

kept their eyes lowered with great reverence’” (Reader, 102).

 Moctezuma inherited an immense hoard of wealth from his father Axayaca. “‘At that

time Moctezuma kept there great oratories for his idols and a secret chamber where he

kept bars and jewels of gold, which was the treasure he had inherited from his father

Axayaca, and he never disturbed it’” (Reader, 103).

 The Spanish were forced to demonstrate reverence to Moctezuma. “Those great Princes

who accompanied Moctezuma held back Cortés by the arm so that he should not embrace

him, for they considered it an indignity’” (Reader, 102).