They had religious customs, languages, and trade networks that were unique to their civilizations. Make the case that in many ways, they were advanced to Europeans. As in any major historical event there are many underlying themes and storylines that come together to make the event happen. It was the Olmec who worshipped a rain god, a maize god, and the feathered serpent so important in the future pantheons of the Aztecs (who called him Quetzalcoatl) and the Maya (to whom he was Kukulkan). The first inhabitants of what would be named the Americas migrated across this bridge in search of food. The Aztec used an "uncertain" succession system in which the ruler was selected from a pool of eligible royals. Columbuss colonization of the Atlantic islands inaugurated an era of aggressive Spanish expansion across the Atlantic. The Spanish did not return the favor, eventually kidnapping Emperor Montezuma and, using him as a puppet, ran the country. Specifically, they had holes in their empire because certain parts were just used to get sacrifices, or were fished . The Maya were native people of Mexico and Central America, while the Aztec covered most of northern Mesoamerica between c.1345 and 1521 CE, whereas Inca flourished in ancient Peru between c.1400 and 1533 CE and extended across western South America. The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking people who lived in central Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. In contrast, the Aztec empire was an alliance of three powerful city-states with each having various periods of greater influence. Already a member? Tenochtitlan became the dominant city in the alliance, and their empire spread through both trade and military conquest. The Maya were located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and they were also located in parts of Guatemala and Belize. The Aztecs created a large empire across Mexico through tribute and trade. All these figures have flat noses, slightly crossed eyes, and large lips. These pueblos may be viewed today in Canyon de Chelly National Monument (above) in Arizona and Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Though the cultures are alike in many ways, such as their building of pyramids, use of hieroglyphics (bar the Inca), they are four distinct cultures that rose and fell at different times for different reasons. The Aztec followed about 400 years after the Maya began to shrink. However, because of poor soil and a drought that lasted nearly two centuries, their civilization declined by about 900 CE and they abandoned their large population centers. In this Mesoamerica Unit Bundle on the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans, you receive 9 engaging and hands-on resources to teach about Aztec inventions, Inca culture, Tenochtitlan, the disappearance of the Maya, Spanish conquistadors, and much more. In 1325, they began construction of Tenochtitln on an island in Lake Texcoco. The Inca didnt develop a writing system; their records were kept on bundles of knotted cords called quipus. Only by playing upon the disunity among the diverse groups in the Aztec Empire were the Spanish able to capture Tenochtitln. The thing that ties them both together is the Conquistador Hernan Cortes. The Mayans and the Aztecs of Mesoamerica are no different in this sense. The first was the Aztec empire in 1434 who settled in central Mexico, the second was the Inca empire in 1438 who controlled all of the area from Cuzco to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Peasants received only one-third of their crops for themselves. The Olmec also developed a system of trade throughout Mesoamerica, giving rise to an elite class. Due to this difference in worldview the Aztecs weapons were also different from the European weapons that the Spanish used. The Aztec and Maya, as well as other peoples in the same area, were in the area from about 10,000 BCE. Direct link to David Alexander's post Leaving native people alo, Posted 3 years ago. Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. Inca was ruled by Sapa Inca, the emperor who had absolute power. On the other hand, some Illinois women preferred the stable marriage rituals of the Catholic church to their customs, of which bride kidnapping was one. The main key aspects to the Spanish victory, is that the Spanish were viewed as gods at first because of their appearance, the Aztecs welcomed the Spanish with gifts and festivities, which showed the Spanish had total control of people. After the Aztecs were conquered by the Spaniards, they were turned into, Compare And Contrast The Spanish Conquest Of The Aztecs, The Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in 1521, led by Hernando Cortes, was a landmark victory for the European settlers. Why can't they treat the native people with respect? I will provide you with two facts and you will use your critical thinking skills to make historical connections. The Valley of Mexico, a big high-elevation basin in the Sierra Madre Mountains, was the center of Aztec from the period of 1300 to 1521. They were extremely advanced and had an army, laws, roads, bridges, tunnels . Mississippian culture is known for its burial mounds in the central United States. They had cannons on their ships and carried shields and swords, while the Aztecs had spears and wooden shields. This map shows the extent of the major civilizations of the Western Hemisphere. The Pueblo People lived in the desert southwest, an area with little water and dramatic, rocky landscapes. He also had a spy/translator to help communicate between the 2 nations, but most importantly, Cortes killed the Aztec emperor, and destroyed their religious temples! In defiance of the Governor of Cuba and his expedition sponsor, Cortes took control over his forces and moved them inland. A labor force of slaves from subjugated neighboring tribes had built the fabulous city and the three causeways that connected it to the mainland. Direct link to Bailey's post So did the Caste System d, Posted 5 years ago. In addition, Hernan Cortess exploration of the Aztec territory led to an exchange of disease that helped lead to Cortess success. The Spanish had more power; they were better equipped than the Aztecs and more advanced. There are many major Maya sites, including Altun Ha, Cancuen, Coba, Copan, Caracol, El Mirador, Naranjo, Tikal and Yaxha. (credit: Ken Thomas). The Aztec Empire began with an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan in order to defeat Azcapotzalco. When counting the top platform, the total number of stairs is three hundred and sixty-five, the number of days in a year. Most of these Native nations also had similar levels of technology to one another. The Aztecs had good wealth from trading and heavy payments of tribute from conquered people. Compare And Contrast Aztec And Inca Empire 1214 Words | 5 Pages . Finally, the tribes of the Mississippi Valley lived in a cooler, wet climate, in an area where the land was much more suitable for farming. They lasted the longest of all and are often viewed as the greatest Mesoamerican civilization. They treated the Spanish with riches and lavish food, as they would a God. They wrote in hieroglyphics, as did most of the cultures that followed them. It was an epic battle, which unfortunately led to the destruction of a magnificent culture. . Utilizing waterways, they developed trade routes stretching from Canada to Louisiana, where they exchanged goods with other tribes and negotiated in many different languages. Direct link to David Alexander's post The Spanish moved into th, Posted a month ago. You will also describe the end of each civilization and it contributions. There were tribal hunting grounds, usually identified by some geographical landmark, but there was no private ownership of land. The Inca were located in in the rugged, high mountainous terrain of Peru, and the west coast of other modern day South American countries, such as Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. A classic period city called Tikal was reconstructed by Maya, which was spread over 20 sq. Each peasant also worked for the Inca ruler a number of days per month on public works projects, a requirement known as the mita. The Mayas had the only known fully developed written language in pre-Columbian America. The Mayas used a writing system that combined phonetic symbols and logograms and a base 20 and base 5 numbering system. They were extremely advanced and had an army, laws, roads, bridges, tunnels, and a complicated irrigation system far ahead of its time. The Spanish had a full advantage in technology, since they were the side that were fighting to kill they had the equipment to do so. The Inca people worshipped their lord who, as a member of an elite ruling class, had absolute authority over every aspect of life. You must compare and contrast at least three of the following five topics ( Economy, Religion, Social System, Government, Technology). Much like the Europeans, Aztecs built temples (doc 4), a men's house and a city square (doc 6), and a large market place (doc 8). Encouraged by the wealth found by the Spanish in the settled civilizations to the south, fifteenth- and sixteenth-century English, Dutch, and French explorers expected to discover the same in North America. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, and for its. What are the similarities and differences between the caste system in India andthe class system of the contemporary United States? Mayan History. From the coast they received shells; from Canada, copper; and from the Rocky Mountains, obsidian. Mayas had city-states, not an empire. Spanish colonization after Columbus accelerated the rivalry between Spain and Portugal to an unprecedented level. Additionally, it provides us with common cultural patterns They were to be white, bearded men, dressed in different colors and on their heads they would wear round coverings. Society was divided between pipiltin (nobles) and macehualli (commoners), and was led by an Emperor. The Africans were traded to American through the Triangular Slave Trade, which was a trading system in which American colonies would give raw materials farmed with slave power to Europe, who would give the manufactured textiles and other goods to certain African tribes, which would give their slaves to the Americas. ", Monctezuma was born in 1466 and died on June 29th 1520. Both cultures were obsessed with the stars and their movement in the heavens and they each built large observatories to watch and record what was happening, buildings that still exist to this day. What made these civilizations so great, was their trade networks, writing systems, and agricultural achievements., The Mongol ad Aztec empires evolved on opposite sides of the world and with different techniques. The Empire reached its greatest spread in 1519 CE, just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the area. Aztec civilization was built around corn cultivation. Leading with the city if Tenochtitlan, Cortes takes over each Aztec city, to ultimately, The victory of Cortes over the Aztec was the result of certain military advantages the conquistadors enjoyed, as well as specific problems that weakened the Aztec people and made the empire more vulnerable. Direct link to trell2267's post Why didn't the spanish ju, Posted 2 years ago. I think the Span, Posted 2 years ago. Unlike the Spanish, who were heavy-handed and imposing in their conversion efforts, the Jesuits preferred to work with and through native communities in order to spread the word of God. The city also contained one hundred and twenty earthen mounds or pyramids, each dominating a particular neighborhood and on each of which lived a leader who exercised authority over the surrounding area. The last major theme was the effect of the political divisions and rivalries within Montezuma's Central American Kingdom. Furthermore, many of the Illinois actually preferred to interact with French colonialists. Tenochtitlan was built on an island in a Mexican lake called Lake Texcoco. Mississippi nations were often towns, each ruled separately within the tribe, of about a thousand each. Latest answer posted February 01, 2021 at 10:40:06 PM. The Mayan priests were famed astronomers whose star charts allowed them to create an accurate calendar that scientists still admire today for its precision. What variations in the colonies occurred because of geography? In the southwestern part of todays United States dwelled several groups we collectively call the Pueblo. Direct link to Michael Fulcher's post How did spain handle all , Posted 3 years ago. Although they were not as advanced as the Inca, they did have a 365-day calendar and used hieroglyphics. According to legend, the Aztecs saw a vision telling them to settle on an island in Lake Texcoco, which they did in 1325 CE. Three major themes are seen in this struggle. Today only a few survive. However, the Pueblo people were skillful in developing different waterways for their agriculture system, they successfully domesticated animals, and they had similar . As such, the Pueblos lived in villages made from the red rocks of their surroundings, and they ate crops they could raise without as much water, such as corn and beans, as well as animals that they would hunt. Maya comprised up of city-states and was not united politically. In 1519, Hernn Corts began his conquest of the Aztec empire, specifically via the siege of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. Along with their culture, each civilization also had a set of achievements, which in some cases are continued to be used today. They caught some of the Spanish, killed some of them, even ate some. With few exceptions, the North American native cultures were much more widely dispersed than the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan societies, and did not have their population size or organized social structures. The Olmecs are frequently forgotten entirely, and the rest are often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct. Inspired by tales of rivers of gold and timid, malleable native peoples, later Spanish explorers were relentless in their quest for land and gold. The Spanish reported that they 'were sickened by the people's shocking routines', which was mentioning toward the sacrifice they saw. Consider the Aztecs, Incas, Pueblo, the Iroquois league of tribes, Cahokia, and others. 2. The city was destroyed. Cortes the leader of the Spaniards brought eleven ships, five hundred and eight fighting men, one hundred sailors, two hundred indigenous slaves, and sixteen horses on his way to find gold and glory. Detective Stanton and a newly hired officer, Stankowitcz (awaiting to go to the academy), When you build a truth table for a claim, you. Scholars believe the city was used for religious ceremonial purposes and housed the priesthood. A century later, however, probably because of drought, the Pueblo peoples abandoned their cities. They also bred small domesticated dogs which, along with fish, provided their protein. The Inca had no written language. Roads extending some 180 miles connected the Pueblos smaller urban centers to each other and to Chaco Canyon, which by 1050 CE had become the administrative, religious, and cultural center of their civilization. The Incas were the largest state in the Americas, with a population of over twenty million. The Spaniards had the advantage over the Aztecs in every way except for numbers. Lastly, each civilization had a decline. Not only did they beat the Aztecs in battle, the diseases syphilis and smallpox helped them by killing off half of the Aztecs. The tradition began with the Olmec peoples of the Gulf Coast in the second millennium B.C., if not earlier. Later settlers came by boat across the narrow strait. to be a civilization that was loosely organized and strife-ridden. All of the Native American groups listed had very advanced cultures. The Incas, Aztecs, and Mayans lived in Central and Southern Mexico and experienced hot, humid climates with lots of rainfall. They were more advanced than Europeans in medicine, architecture, and agriculture, but less advanced in shipbuilding and use of iron. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more . Direct link to skyler karrick's post i think those dresses loo, Posted 3 years ago. A chief or group of tribal elders made decisions, and although the chief was male, usually the women selected and counseled him. How did spain handle all the inflation? The Inca had no system of writing, however. And some of our soldiers even asked whether the things that we saw were not a dream? Ultimately, Hernan Cortess conquer of the Aztec Empire is a significant historical event because he explored the territory of Mexico, had various encounters with the Aztecs and other groups of people, and exchanged diseases with them., When Cortes heard of a vast and wealthy empire deep within the Mexican interior, the conquest of Mexico had already begun. When the glaciers melted, water engulfed Beringia, and the Bering Strait was formed. A Mesoamerican civilization commenced in around 2600 B.C., by the Maya peoples, and known for its hierological script (the only familiar fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian American) is known as Maya. KnowledgeNuts.com would like to show you notifications for our latest post and updates. Beringiaan ancient land bridge linking Asia and North America, chasquisIncan relay runners used to send messages over great distances, chinampasfloating Aztec gardens consisting of a large barge woven from reeds, filled with dirt and floating on the water, allowing for irrigation, matriarchya society in which women have political power, mitathe Incan labor tax, with each family donating time and work to communal projects, quipuan ancient Incan device for recording information, consisting of variously colored threads knotted in different ways, activation energythe amount of initial energy necessary for reactions to occur. Direct link to 21HernandezRa28's post What are some specific ex, Posted 2 years ago. In Broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than Spanish power contributed to the downfall of the Aztecs. The Olmecs established themselves around 1400 B.C. What impact did Europeans have on their New World environmentsmeaning native peoples and their communities as well as ecological elements such as What are some similarities and differences between the United Farm Workers and the American Indian Movement. Maya people survived in farming villages on the Yucatan Peninsula and the highlands to the south. Flourishing along the hot Gulf Coast of Mexico from about 1200 to about 400 BCE, the Olmec produced a number of major works of art, architecture, pottery, and sculpture. Despite Cortss encountering a few setbacks, there was no contest, and he managed to subdue five million Aztecs with his tiny army. The mother of Mesoamerican cultures was the Olmec civilization. However, they never invented a system of writing, instead using knotted ropes for record-keeping. Continually moving southward, the settlers eventually populated both North and South America, creating unique cultures that ranged from the highly complex and urban Aztec civilization in what is now Mexico City to the woodland tribes of eastern North America. In 1562, Bishop Diego de Landa, who feared the converted natives had reverted to their traditional religious practices, collected and burned every codex he could find. They only treated them to the finest of treasures because they were sure this was what they were looking for. This made them the unique civilization that they still are today., All cultures are centered around belief structures that continue over a long period time, but some of the practices and rituals associated with these beliefs can become shuffled and this can drastically set two religions apart. The differences between the Pueblo People of the Southwest, the Tribes of the Mississippi Valley, and the Incas, Mayans and Aztecs on the eve of contact were quite drastic, for a number of reasons. One of the most significant and defining of those conquests is the downfall of the Mexica/Aztec Empire. The Anasazi were the beginning of pueblo culture. According to legend, a warlike people called the Aztec (also known as the Mexica) had left a city called Aztln and traveled south to the site of present-day Mexico City. With this agricultural revolution, and the more abundant and reliable food supplies it brought, populations grew and people were able to develop a more settled way of life, building permanent settlements. Turquoise was mostly used with Aztec artists; the most common example is the decorated human skull which represents the God Tezcatlipoca. The Mali and Aztecs both traded, but while Mali traded with Islamic regions developing Islamic institutions within its borders, the Aztecs traded locally consequently not being influenced by outside cultures. connected to the mainland by three broad causeways and supplied with drinkable water, Their supreme rulers power was just as extensive as any, The first Spaniards that entered the city of Tenochtitlan. The three main groups of the Pueblo people were the Mogollon, Hohokam, and Anasazi. Spanish explorers with hopes of conquest in the New World were known as conquistadores. Gold and silver began to connect European nations through trade, and the Spanish money supply ballooned, which signified the beginning of the economic system known as, Riches poured in from the colonies, and new ideas poured in from other countries and new lands. The Aztec Empire controlled Central America from what would later become Mexico City. Corn, or maize, domesticated by 5000 BCE, formed the basis of their diet. Zip. The Mayas architectural and mathematical contributions were significant. Land, and the game that populated it, they believed, were there for the taking. These accomplishments established them as advanced societies during their time without the influence of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The Maya people lived in southern Mexico and northern Central America a wide territory that includes the entire Yucatn Peninsula from as early as 2600 BC. Envoys from surrounding tribes brought tribute to the Emperor. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. These two cultures arose close together in the same time period and are similar in a few ways like religion and government. Compare and Contrast the Maya, Aztec & Inca It must contain location, time periods, and capitals for each civilization. The Aztecs lived in central Mexico. There was an independent ruler for each city-state. In return, the lord provided laws, protection, and relief in times of famine. A major part of their life was religion. Moctezuma is often called an emperor, but his actual title was First Speaker, the elected leader of a council. . What they found instead were small, disparate communities, many already ravaged by European diseases brought by the Spanish and transmitted among the natives. One major Mayan city was Chichen Itza, 1000 to 1450 CE. The Maya people spread from southern Mexico, through to Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and northern El Salvador. The Spaniards would fight to kill while the Aztecs would capture their enemies and sacrifice them to their gods. Also like the Romans, the Inca were effective administrators. This matriarchy changed dramatically with the coming of the Europeans, who introduced, sometimes forcibly, their own customs and traditions to the natives. Though the area had no overarching political structure, trade over long distances helped diffuse culture. Both empires ruled at different times but both built massive temples to please their gods, kings and also used for astronomy. Conclusion To conclude, the article, "Some Aztec and Pueblo" by Elsie Clews Parsons focuses on the parallels between Aztec and Pueblo cultures. Direct link to dcervante0051's post what were the spanish ast, Posted 5 years ago. The similarities between all these Native nations are that, except for the Incas, they were all radically democratic, especially compared to European societies with absolute monarchs. On the surface of this house they would cook their food, walk and play as if they were on firm land. Before being abolished, they managed to become the most advanced in their short life. Envision an old Native American settlement where individuals constructed pyramids, planned sun oriented observatories and, we should report, rehearsed human penance. The Hopi and Zuni, like other Pueblo Indians, live in settled villages and towns consisting of multi-story houses called pueblos. They were ruled by kings and priests and were not wiped out like some of the other cultures, but gradually dissipated. Whenever the battery is dead, the, Detective Stanton gets a tip from John Bratton's neighbor that Bratton is dealing drugs out of his house. The local rulers and conquered people had to pay tax to the Aztec. At its height in about 1100 CE, this five-square-mile city, now called Cahokia, was home to more than ten thousand residents; tens of thousands more lived on farms surrounding the urban center.