Notes

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The Rest of the Aztec Story

Women had more of a role than in the eastern hemisphere - wove cloth, some were priestesses, midwives, healers, or merchants

Sacrificed victims grew resentful, in result, the Spanish and Hernan Cortez united and rose up to overthrow the empire along with diseases that killed many


INCA
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Began around 1438, about 5 years before Columbus's arrival. Tribal ruler's son who proclaimed himself - Pachachuti (transformer of the earth) and transformed the Inca state into an empire

Empire split into four provinces
Conquered people didn't have to pay tribute, but had to "mita siesta" or mandatory public service for men ages 15-50

Economy based on agriculture and had feudal European feel with few market towns, and many small villages

Required to turn over portion of crops to the local ruler, who stored the crops for times of famine
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Practiced royal ancestor worship, where dead rulers were mummified and continued to rule, so they did not inherit the land or property, leading each ruler to expand the empire

Inca means people of the sun

Polytheistic, the priests were consulted before important actions

Had beliefs in sacrifices, of food and animal, and rarely that of humans

Also had an element of animism, believing that elements of the physical world could have supernatural powers called "Huaca"
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Achievements & Decline

Developed the 'quipu' a system of knotted lines to record numerical information

Developed the terrace system

Constructed 25,000 miles - helped own troops, allowed others to use the roads if not protected against them

The Inca were in the middle of a civil war when the Spanish arrived, that and diseases made it easier for Francisco Pizarro to conquer them