Post-Classical Mesoamerican Societies

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Chapter 11

• Post-Classical Mesoamerican Societies

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Question

• What do we mean by the term Mesoamerica?
• From Central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua

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Mesoamerican Post-Classical Societies

• Mayas (8th c. - collapsed)
• Toltecs (8th c. - 1150 CE)
• Aztecs (1325-1521)
• Incas (1438 - 1532)

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Areas of the Aztec and Mayan Empires
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Review of Aztecs

• Advanced Cities - Tenochtitlan
• Advanced Agriculture - Chinampas
• Religion - polytheistic male and female deities
  creator gods, fertility gods and gods of warfare
  and sacrifice
• Treatment of Conquered Territories - take land
  and pay taxes through food
• State-controlled economy

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Review of Aztecs

• Social Structure - more hierarchical over time
• Status of Women - work in fields keep the
  household weaving elders trained younger girls
  arranged marriages could inherit property

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The Inca
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The Incas

• Origins - one of many tribes fighting for power
  in the Andes Mtns
• Empire known as Twantinsuyu
• 9-13 million people

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The Incas

• Conquest
• Economic Gain
• Political Power
• Religion
• Ancestor Worship
• Mummification

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Government and Politics

• Leader considered a god
• Four provinces ruled by governor
• Nobles in bureaucracy
• Local rulers could keep power if they were loyal
• Curacas
• Unified language
• Public works - roads, Irrigation
• Split Inheritance
• All political power and titles of the ruler went
  to his successor
• Palaces, wealth is divided amongst male
  descendants

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Cultural Achievements

• Art Metallurgy (bronze, gold, silver), pottery
• Math counting system (quipo)
• Infrastructure was greatest achievement
• Roads
• Public buildings
• Terraced farming

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Aztecs v. Incas

• Different
• Geography (Mesoamerica v. Andes Mountains)
• Aztec more developed trade
• Writing systems, use for metal differed
• Aztec - lasted longer

• Similar
• Intensive Agriculture
• State Controlled Economy
• Strong Militaries
• More complicated social system develops over time
• Bureaucracy of Nobility
• Recognize local ethnic groups
• Both were established by conquering settled
  agricultural societies

Summary While there are some differences, there
are many similarities, origins, political
development