I visited Chichen Itza yesterday and got confused between the 2 civilizations, so this really helped clear things up. Nowhere in the Americas was this more obvious than in Mesoamerica. With these materials they created necklaces, woven mats, and exquisite carvings. When the Spanish saw the resources that the Aztecs had, they quickly started taking advantage of the Aztecs weaknesses. They used a 365-day calendar based on sun movement and believed in a cyclical nature of time and in three planes: Earth, underworld and heavens above. Their religion has them human sacrifice, and it has a huge role in war as well, the Aztecs would not fight to kill, but they fought to capture. 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. The greatest of these civilizations are the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca. In 1492, however, the Aztecs in Mexico City were at their peak. Each god in the Aztec pantheon represented and ruled an aspect of the natural world, such as the heavens, farming, rain, fertility, sacrifice, and combat. (matrons) of ohwachiras (group of related families). A chief or group of tribal elders made decisions, and although the chief was male, usually the women selected and counseled him. The monarchy took most of it, and the rest was spread across lords and ladies. How did their location impact their economic development, religion and scholastic contributions? Direct link to skyler karrick's post i think those dresses loo, Posted 3 years ago. Illness played a much greater role in the citys downfall than violence. How do we know that? 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. This matriarchy changed dramatically with the coming of the Europeans, who introduced, sometimes forcibly, their own customs and traditions to the natives. How did native people shape the course of Spanish conquest? Their class structures were similar, and they all valued religion. Envision an old Native American settlement where individuals constructed pyramids, planned sun oriented observatories and, we should report, rehearsed human penance. The Mali Empire and the Aztec Empire rose in different locations thus they had different ways of approaching different aspects of their culture but both empires still shared some key aspects also., Two of the most influential and powerful postclassical Mesoamerican empires belonged to the Inca and Aztec people. El Castillo, located at Chichen Itza in the eastern Yucatn peninsula, served as a temple for the god Kukulkan. Weapons made of obsidian, jewelry crafted from jade, feathers woven into clothing and ornaments, and cacao beans that were whipped into a chocolate drink formed the basis of commerce. There was quite a bit of gold coming in. 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. The Inca civilization can be traced back to about A.D. 1200. The Maya architects used local materials, like limestone, which they used at Palenque and Tikal, while metalwork was the most primary skill of the Aztec. They had strange animals that the Aztecs had never seen before such as the horse, which they thought were connected to the Spaniards. The Northern Maya cities continued to flourish until the Spanish conquest. The Anasazi learned how to use water for irrigation to water their crops. To quickly sum up, the Maya were first but learned a lot from the Olmecs, who started 1,200 years later. The Maya civilization ended up falling, whereas the Inca and Aztec civilizations ended up being conquered by the Spanish. Starting in 1532, the Spanish also began the conquest of Peru, specifically the Incan empire, under the command of Francisco Pizarro. Mesoamericans were polytheistic; their gods possessed both male and female traits and demanded blood sacrifices of enemies taken in battle or ritual bloodletting. The Inca were from a completely different area and lasted less than 300 years before being wiped out, while still managing to become the most advanced in their short life. Many of the mounds that were opened by archaeologists contained artworks and other goods that indicate their society was socially stratified. The Aztecs built a great capital in Tenochtitlan . Here we also discuss the key differences with infographics and comparison table. It is hard to overlook the fact that they had remarkable similarities, but also some differences. The indigenous groups of the Mississippi River Valley initially made contact with French Jesuits in the seventeenth century. What common goals did American Indians, gay and lesbian citizens, and women share in their quests for equal rights? Aztecs were polytheistic. "Mayan" refers only to the language spoken by the "Maya" people, Animal Remains Provide Clues to Maya Commoners -. Also need help with the second exercise.. They all had a very distinctive culture, that defined the way they lived, and influenced the way their followers still live today. By 1519, when Corts arrived, this settlement contained upwards of 200,000 inhabitants and was certainly the largest city in the Western Hemisphere at that time and probably larger than any European city. Flourishing from roughly 2000 BCE to 900 CE in what is now Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala, the Maya perfected the calendar and written language the Olmec had begun. The Maya used two calendars. There are many major Maya sites, including Altun Ha, Cancuen, Coba, Copan, Caracol, El Mirador, Naranjo, Tikal and Yaxha. The Spanish relationship with Monctezuma was very manipulative and deceiving. In the southwestern part of todays United States dwelled several groups we collectively call the Pueblo. The Inca ruler required a third, and a third was set aside in a kind of welfare system for those unable to work. The Empire reached its greatest spread in 1519 CE, just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the area. Aztec belief centered on supplying the gods with human bloodthe ultimate sacrificeto keep them strong and well. Tenochtitlan was the largest and the capital city of Aztecs, which was built on an island in Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs founded their biggest city, Tenochtitlan, in A.D. 1325, meaning they were much younger than any of the other three. In this illustration, an Aztec priest cuts out the beating heart of a sacrificial victim before throwing the body down from the temple. Each of these knots and strings possessed a distinct meaning intelligible to those educated in their significance. Conversely, the Spaniards had the horses, firearms, and they had most of the people of the Aztec society on their side. Not only did they have a large influential impact, they were also highly affected by other cultures. One which was based on the solar year, while the other was a kind of sacred almanac. . You will also describe the end of each civilization and it contributions. Ultimately, this article provides us with precise examples and, accurate/dependable in-text citations, but simultaneously lacking reliable sources describing the. This scenario is an. It will happen a seeing [. -The Incas were a similar civilization to the Aztecs only located alone the west coast of, The Incan Empire was very advanced, populous, vast, with a highly, The Incan Empire was so large that only the only empires to. This map shows the extent of the major civilizations of the Western Hemisphere. 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. All children were educated until age 14. 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. They also hunted. 1. In times of dire emergency, however, such as in the aftermath of earthquakes, volcanoes, or crop failure, they resorted to sacrificing prisoners. One of Cortss soldiers, Bernal Daz del Castillo, recorded his impressions upon first seeing it: When we saw so many cities and villages built in the water and other great towns on dry land we were amazed and said it was like the enchantments . The paper "The Spaniards Attitudes toward the Native Culture and People They Encountered with the Aztec" highlights that the imposition of superiority by the Western . They had cannons on their ships and carried shields and swords, while the Aztecs had spears and wooden shields. Further south in Peru, the Inca linked one of the largest empires in history through the use of roads and disciplined armies. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more . Direct link to trell2267's post Why didn't the spanish ju, Posted 2 years ago. Although the rise of the Mongol and Aztec empires differed in the rights of women during the post classical period, they were similar in that both empires made people pay various forms of tribute., The Mesoamerican civilization of the Incas was Inevitably incredible. If the engine overheats, then we won't get to the concert on time. They built many pyramids, some of which still stand today. The civilization's height was between 250 and 900 AD. (459) $34.42. 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. What were the 34 most significant differences between ideas of regional identity in the North and in the South during the Civil War? This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. The Aztec empire was what the ambitious Cortes had been looking for since his departure from Spain; he most certainly hoped that his wish to discover the empire would come true. The ruins of the Templo Mayor were excavated in Mexico City in 1978. In 1983, UNESCO designated the ruined city a World Heritage Site. The Spanish were immune to these diseases because they were well known in Europe and they had been exposed to them for years, but the Aztecs weren't so entire villages were wiped out in just few weeks which cleared the way for the Spanish to entirely conquer and destroy the Aztec empire., Have you ever wondered the methods in history, to wipe out a powerful empire? From the coast they received shells; from Canada, copper; and from the Rocky Mountains, obsidian. The Mali and Aztecs both traded, but while Mali traded with Islamic . Direct link to 21HernandezRa28's post What are some specific ex, Posted 2 years ago. For a while there, Exercise 8-9 Which of the following arguments is valid? In my opinion, without this aspect the Incas most likely wouldn't of been as successful., Social structure, warfare habits together with religious beliefs and practices were passed down to the Aztecs which adapted it to their more developed society which was, Documents 4, 6, and 8 all show how similar Aztec cities were to European cities. So did the Caste System decide who got certain rights and places of power or was it merely a way of categorizing the people? You must compare and contrast at least three of the following five topics ( Economy, Religion, Social System, Government, Technology). Each of the three groups also had societal structures that were each unique to their own societies. Ordo Ab Chao (Quizzaciously Sesquipedalianized Eleemosynary), The Aztecs witnessed the smallpox epidemic's destruction personally, and this was described in the Florentine Codex. 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. Using only the strength of human labor and no machines, the Inca constructed walls and buildings of polished stones, some weighing over fifty tons, that were fitted together perfectly without the use of mortar. Ruby Design Company. $29.99. The Mayas architectural and mathematical contributions were significant. -The League of the Iroquois contained 5 tribes; the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga. The Inca people worshipped their lord who, as a member of an elite ruling class, had absolute authority over every aspect of life. According to the Christian Bible, God created humanity in his own image with the command to use and subdue the rest of creation, which included not only land, but also all animal life. Most important for our knowledge of these peoples, they created the only known written language in the Western Hemisphere; researchers have made much progress in interpreting the inscriptions on their temples and pyramids. I've read that the reasons for Spanish conquest could be summed up with three words: "Gold, Glory, God.". A second major theme is the greed that fueled the conquests in the New World. From evidence such as Document 9, we can also tell they had a similar social structure. Although marked by great topographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity, this region cradled a number of civilizations with similar characteristics. It is the display of Bolon-Yokte in a great investiture. . On the one hand, treaties made with the French gave the Illinois and advantage over other Indigenous rivals (particularly the Miami). They built most of their great cities between A.D. 250 and A.D. 900. The Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations were really smart in topics of engineering, writing, agriculture and astronomy. This is not the actions of a good and trust worthy friend. Monumental sculptures were mainly favorite. Where getting that wealth required human labor, they enslaved the local people. Why did the Spanish choose to enslave native people? The Spanish won out because of their preparation, and because they brought so many diseases with them, it killed some of the Aztecs as well. The Aztecs are a tribe, according to their own legends, from Aztlan somewhere in the . From the beginning Cortes made moves to openly try to undermined Monctezuma. 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. (The fact that Asians and American Indians share genetic markers on a Y chromosome lends credibility to this migration theory.) A civil war over the rightful heir to the throne meant that when the Spanish invaded, the Inca were easily defeated. I need to find which are valid and which are invalid. Maya builds towering temples and elaborate palaces, Aztec build their capital city Tenochtitlan on an island, while Inca constructed stone temples without using mortars, yet the stone fit together so well that a knife would not fit between the stones. Columbuss colonization of the Atlantic islands inaugurated an era of aggressive Spanish expansion across the Atlantic. Making Connections Discussion This discussion is for critical thinking and historical analysis. Due to this difference in worldview the Aztecs weapons were also different from the European weapons that the Spanish used. It is also important to look at because of the immense cultural impact it had. Also, Smallpox spread, which killed most of the Inca. Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. Google Apps. 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. 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. This rendering of the Aztec island city of Tenochtitln depicts the causeways that connected the central city to the surrounding land. The Maya created a writing system of hieroglyphics, the Aztec created the famous mask of Xuihetecuhtli that employed turquoise mosaic, and the Inca created a massive road network through mountains and rivers. Respect was out of the question then, as now, when people of one race consider themselves to be superior to people of other races. A polytheistic people, they often practiced human sacrifice to please their gods . What role did geography play in the social/political/economic development of the thirteen English colonies? The mayans did not fully occupy the area of land they in. Along with their culture, each civilization also had a set of achievements, which in some cases are continued to be used today. The Olmec, Mayan, Incan, and Aztec civilizations are some of the greatest ancient civilizations in history, and yet we know very little about them compared to other parts of the world. Upon their arrival in North America, Europeans found no fences, no signs designating ownership. Also social structure of both societies varied in which Mali had extended families and clans serve as the main foundation of their social structure while Aztec society was mainly a hierarchy with military elite as their main source of authority. No groups had been exposed to horses or any working farm animal before Europeans arrived. Maya comprised up of city-states and was not united politically. Compare and contrast Maya, Aztec, and Inca culture In history we the people have found to realize that the Maya, Aztec, and Inca culture was one of the most incredible findings of their accomplishments. The Aztec, Incan, and Pueblo Indigenous groups all experienced colonization and ultimate conquest by the Spanish. Some of these accomplishments ranged from agriculture to architecture and on to writing and trade. The horses allowed the Spaniards to tower over the battling Aztecs giving them an advantage on spotting on coming attacks. The Aztec, Incan, and Pueblo Indigenous groups all experienced colonization and ultimate conquest by the Spanish. 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. Without the use of the wheel, they cut and fashioned stone to build Machu Picchu high in the Andes before abandoning the city for unknown reasons. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec is no different. Peasants received only one-third of their crops for themselves. Direct link to David Alexander's post The Central African Empir. The Aztec Empire controlled Central America from what would later become Mexico City. Latest answer posted October 06, 2019 at 11:40:56 AM. There were tribal hunting grounds, usually identified by some geographical landmark, but there was no private ownership of land. During the years 1200 to 1500 CE, two ideal empires, Mali of Sub - Saharan Africa and the Aztecs of the Americas developed into truly influential and powerful empires. The Maya, known for their writing glyphs, and their trade network, made them great. . It was the largest empire that developed and extended approximately 2500 miles from north to south and included around 16 million people. There was an independent ruler for each city-state. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Spanish explorers with hopes of conquest in the New World were known as, Hoping to gain power over the city, Corts took, Following his defeat, Corts slowly created alliances and recruited tens of thousands of native peoples who resented Aztec rule. The Spanish did not return the favor, eventually kidnapping Emperor Montezuma and, using him as a puppet, ran the country. They build huge temples and pyramids in dedication to their god Huitzilopochtli. Large-scale agriculture and the resultant abundance of food allowed time for people to develop special trades and skills other than farming. While the Spanish were ready to kill. 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. Both Mayan and Aztec people believed in human sacrifices. The Spanish used surrounding enemy tribes to take over the Aztec lands, then began to massacre men, women and children. were in awe of the sophistication of the Aztec civilization. What factors lead to their demise? Olmec Civilization In the high desert of New Mexico, the Anasazi, whose name means ancient enemy or ancient ones, carved homes from steep cliffs accessed by ladders or ropes that could be pulled in at night or in case of enemy attack. And some of our soldiers even asked whether the things that we saw were not a dream? When the glaciers melted, water engulfed Beringia, and the Bering Strait was formed. A persons possessions included only what he or she had made, such as tools or weapons. Columbus's discovery opened a floodgate of Spanish exploration. You could argue for both sides as to which played a more significant part in the fall of the Aztecs, however, I feel they both played an equal role in the defeat of the Aztecs and the fall of Tenochititlan to the Spaniards., Hernan Cortes traveled to Mexico in 1519 with a group of men and 11 ships, after ignoring Diego Velasquezs orders, where he then continued to have many encounters with the Aztecs because he wanted to overthrow Aztec ruler Montezuma . The Mayan Empire existed on the Yucatan peninsula but disappeared before the arrival of the Spanish. A major part of their life was religion. In general, the French interactions with the Illinois and other indigenous peoples of the Mississippi River Valley were much more mild and less violent than the Spanish conquests of the Pueblos, Aztecs, and Incas. It was an epic battle, which unfortunately led to the destruction of a magnificent culture. Direct link to jonathand0412's post Why did the Spanish choos, Posted 3 years ago. They caught some of the Spanish, killed some of them, even ate some. Not only did they beat the Aztecs in battle, the diseases syphilis and smallpox helped them by killing off half of the Aztecs. As in any major historical event there are many underlying themes and storylines that come together to make the event happen. The Aztecs followed about 400 years after the Mayan civilization began to shrink. The Aztec followed about 400 years after the Maya began to shrink. After reaching Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Capital, the Spaniards were initially greeted as foreign ambassadors. Direct link to Bailey's post So did the Caste System d, Posted 5 years ago. 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. They noted that The Pueblos lived in houses. Mayas had city-states, not an empire. 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. Their government was a whole lot different from any other of the civilizations. For example, peasants constructed rope bridges made of grass to span the mountains above fast-flowing icy rivers. In defiance of the Governor of Cuba and his expedition sponsor, Cortes took control over his forces and moved them inland. The city was also the center for trade, which extended to settlements on Mesoamericas Gulf Coast. The Aztecs, on the other hand, did not know Cortes. Maya people survived in farming villages on the Yucatan Peninsula and the highlands to the south. to strengthen themselves by joining all 5 of the tribes together in a more cohesive, The developed political mechanisms to solve internal problems, These political techniques aided the Iroquois in. Aztec was ruled by an Emperor whose main purpose was to lead in the wars. The Mayans were known for their pyramids as well. They lived in wattle-and-daub houses (made from woven lattice branches daubed with wet mud, clay, or sand and straw) and practiced agriculture, which they supplemented by hunting and fishing. ", Monctezuma was born in 1466 and died on June 29th 1520. The Aztecs built a great capital in Tenochtitlan. One of the largest population centers in pre-Columbian America and home to more than 100,000 people at its height in about 500 CE, Teotihuacan was located about thirty miles northeast of modern Mexico City. Many cave sites are also important to Maya archaeology, including Jolja Cave, the Candelaria Caves and the Cave of the Witch. Then, when the Spanish tried to take advantage of what the Aztecs had given them, they realized they werent the Gods they thought they were looking for. Smallpox broke out in 1520-21 and played a vital in the fall of the city, with between 10% to 50% of the population succumbing to the disease. In Some Aztec and Pueblo Parallels (1933) cultural anthropology demonstrates the, main topic, cultural similarities, using various examples of two different, but closely tied, The author, Elsie Clews Parsons, points out to us that the Aztec and Pueblo people.