The+americas



ESPIRIT on the Aztecs

E:
 * to feed the population of both the Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs depended on the traditional forms of agriculture and the innovations developed by the Aztecs culture.
 * __Chinampas__: was a system for irrigated agriculture adopted by the Aztecs. Chinampas were beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth that had frames make up of canes and was stuck to the floor of lakes.
 * The Aztec peasantry worked in the fields to provide the basic foods for the society.
 * The community of the Aztecs and clans were set aside to support the temples and states.
 * __Pochteca__: the merchant class which were specialized in long distant trade of luxury items like tropical bird plumes and cacao.

S:
 * The Aztec took over what is now mexico city and when the land was taken the poeple had to pay tributes, had to hand over whatever land they owned and do military service for the Aztec empire.
 * __Calpulli:__ Aztec clans that was a form of organization that expanded and adapted to an imperialism position.
 * The Aztec rule expanded and increased the power of the empire; the nobility class came about that was based on families and the most important of Capulli.
 * The military virtues of the Aztecs were linked to cults and that infused the society.
 * Woman helped in the fields but were mainly working in the household.
 * Marriages were arranged between the Aztec people, the young woman had to be a virgins because it was highly regarded.
 * Woman could inherit property by their heirs if they died.

P:
 * The political units of the Aztecs claimed authority on the basis of military power and the connection with the Toltec culture.

I:
 * Converting other regions and people to create a stronger military power and claiming territories to show strength over other regions of meroamerica.

R:
 * The gods that were worshipped during the meroamerica was the god of rain, fire, water, the sky and the sun.
 * The gods were supported by yearly festivals and ceremonies that involved feasting and dancing included with penance and sacrifices.
 * __Tlaloc__: the god of rain; helps the agricultural cycle.
 * __Huitizilopochtti__: The Aztec tribal patron; he became the centeral figure of a cult.
 * The Aztecs used sacrifices to pay tribute to the gods, sacrificing was used in the military when the religion started to expand. Also sacrifices were used as a symbol and ritual that caused the rituals of cannibalism and cults.
 * __Nezhualcoyitl__: the king od Texcoco that write hymns to the "lord of the close vicinity" and created a force that supported all of the gods.
 * Aztecs had religious art and poetry had images if flowers, birds and also songs that the Aztec people greatly admired. Also the images of human hearts and blood to sustain the gods.
 * Mythology was a factor that the Aztecs depended on for the religion to explain the birth and history of the gods and show their relationship between the people.

I:
 * Poetry and art was greatly admired by the Aztec that showed their sustain for their gods with flowers, birds and songs.

T:
 * __Metates__: Stone boards the woman used to grind corn by hand that woman had to spend six hours a day.

Summary: The Aztecs were merchants that took care of another city including their own. But they also depended on the traditional forms of agriculture. The religion of the aztec was centered around sacrifices and they had worship of different gods that represented the different aspects of nature and things they could not explain with their knowledge.

Espirit on Incas E:

S:
 * __Pachacuti__: launched a series of military alliances and campaigns that brought control over the whole area to the Incas.
 * __Twantinsuyu:__ The Incas empire that is now stretched from that is now Colombia to Chile and also eastward across lake Titicaca and Bolivia to Northern Argentina.

P:
 * The conquest for political power for the Incas helped explain the possibilities that was more in kept with in the Incas culture and the Ideology.
 * __Split inheritance__: political power and titles gained by the rulers went to their successor but his wealth, palace and land stayed the their descendants
 * Imperialism was the way the political system was set up.

R:
 * Rulers that served over the Incas were mummified and were treated as intermediaries with the gods. The Incas held parades to a public festivals and offered food and gifts.
 * __Temple of the Sun__: the religious center for the Incas that was located at Cuzco that was the center of their religious state. With in the temple of the sun held the mummified bodies of past Incas.
 * Viracucha was a creator god that was one of the favorite of the Inca pachacuti and stayed important.
 * Huacas were holy shrines and those shrines prayers were offered, animals, goods and humans for sacrifices.

I: T:
 * __Tambos__: way stations that were placed about a days work apart to serve as inns, storehouses and supply houses for the Incan armies to move about.
 * __Mita:__ labor turns that were an essential aspect of the Incas control over other societies.
 * __Yanas:__ a class of people that were removed from their ayllus and were served permanently as servants, artisans or workers for either the Incas and the Nobility.
 * __Quipu__: a system of knotted strings to record numerical and other information.