AP World History: Aztecs vs Incas

Aztecs

• Known as Mexica, established a powerful empire in central Mexico from 1325 to 1521 C.E.
• Notable for Tenochtitlan, built using innovative chinampas, causeways, and canals on Lake Texcoco.
• Forced conquered peoples to provide goods and labor as tribute.

Incas

• Ancient civilization existing from roughly 1200 to 1500 AD in the Andes of Peru.
• Built an extensive network of suspension bridges and roads connecting Central Ecuador to southern Peru.

Similarities Between Aztecs and Incas

• Both civilizations excelled in engineering despite difficult geography.
• Tribute systems: Aztecs demanded military tribute often for human sacrifice, while Incas utilized the mita system for labor.
• Both societies practiced polytheism and constructed monumental architecture.
• Lacked large work animals, metal tools, and the wheel, yet developed centralized governments and armies.
• Both empires ultimately fell to Spanish conquest due to advanced weaponry and diseases.

Social Structures

• Aztecs organized into capulli; Incas into alluyu.
• Exhibited gender parallelism with distinct roles but equal societal value.
• Tribute varied: Aztecs demanded goods, while Incas employed the Mita system.

Political Structures

• Aztecs practiced a decentralized system offering more autonomy to subjects; Incas maintained a strong, centralized government.
• Tribute systems influenced governance and military organization.
• Infrastructure development was crucial for both empires, notably Tenochtitlan for Aztecs and Cusco for Incas.

Human Environment Interaction (HEI)

• Aztecs used chinampas for agriculture; Incas utilized terrace farming techniques.
• Both constructed extensive networks of bridges, roads, and canals to enhance trade and communication.

Cultural Aspects

• Both civilizations emphasized polytheism and conducted human sacrifices.
• Engaged in ceremonial practices that were integral to their societal structure, employing different languages (Nahuatl for Aztecs and Quechua for Incas).

Economic Systems

• Tribute structures pivotal for both economies; Aztecs collected goods while Incas relied on the Mita system for labor.
• Societies involved in labor specialization and trade of produced items.

Technological Innovations

• Aztecs built causeways and canals; Incas excelled with suspension bridges and terrace farming.
• Utilized distinct record-keeping systems: Aztecs had hieroglyphs while Incas employed quipus (knot-based records).

Aztec Capital

• Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City, served as the thriving capital of the Aztec Empire.

Built Chinampas

• Aztecs developed artificial islands for agriculture, known as chinampas, to support their growing population and maximize farming output.

Aztec Empire Overview

• Extended from central Mexico to the border of Guatemala, utilizing tributes of resources from conquered populations.

Aztec Hierarchy

• Structured with an emperor at the top, followed by nobility, commoners, serfs, and slaves.
• Commoners included priests, merchants, and artisans, while serfs were tied to noble lands.

Religion & the Arts

• Religion drove Aztecs to engage in warfare, emphasizing the necessity of human sacrifices to appease gods.
• Artistic expression flourished in temple decorations and writing that celebrated military victories.

Inca Empire Overview

• Dominated the Andes, spanning approximately 2500 miles; Cuzco served as the capital.
• Established through conquests and raiding, creating a strong centralized government.

Inca Administration

• Emperors held immense control over land, agriculture, and resource distribution.
• Implemented step terraces for farming on hilly terrain and enforced tax collection from harvested crops.

Inca Infrastructure

• Developed a network of roads and bridges to connect diverse regions across the empire.
• Emphasized sacrifices to please gods, but on a smaller scale compared to Aztecs.

Inca Labor System

• Mita represented the labor service system, requiring periodic work from households in agriculture, herding, and construction in exchange for state-sponsored feasts.

Gender Parallelism in Empires

• Both empires operated under gender parallelism, with separate yet equally valued roles and responsibilities for men and women.

Differences Between Aztecs and Incas

• Agriculture methods differed: Aztecs used chinampas, while Incas practiced terrace farming.
• Different tribute systems: blood tribute for Aztecs versus labor mita for Incas.
• Aztec emperors viewed as sons of the sun god; Incas worshiped Inti.
• Unique languages: Aztecs spoke Nahuatl; Incas communicated in Quechua.