Ap World Compare and Contrast Essay. As Inga Clendinnen states; "How was it that a motley bunch of Spanish adventurers, never numbering much more than four hundred or so, was able to defeat an Amerindian military power on its home ground in the space of two years? With the assistance of Tlaxcalan collaborators, Corts surrounded Tenochtitlan and eventually wore down its defenses through naval engagements and causing epidemics of smallpox. -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. In defiance of the Governor of Cuba and his expedition sponsor, Cortes took control over his forces and moved them inland. Aztec was ruled by an Emperor whose main purpose was to lead in the wars. i think those dresses look horrid on toughs poor little girls. The civilization's height was between 250 and 900 AD. The Mayans and the Aztecs of Mesoamerica are no different in this sense. - [Instructor] In the first years of interaction between Native Americans and Europeans, there were a lot of aspects of each other's cultures that each group found, well, just plain weird. Most recognizable are their giant head sculpturesand the pyramid in La Venta. Although technology was a major reason of the defeat, another reason for the defeat was the lack of, The Aztecs were an Indian people who began as a migrant tribe. The. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. There are many major Maya sites, including Altun Ha, Cancuen, Coba, Copan, Caracol, El Mirador, Naranjo, Tikal and Yaxha. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Latest answer posted February 03, 2021 at 6:26:14 PM. The Aztec followed about 400 years after the Maya began to shrink. The two powers vied for domination through the acquisition of new lands. A civil war over the rightful heir to the throne meant that when the Spanish invaded, the Inca were easily defeated. The Pueblos were city-states also, but typically each had about ten thousand people. Said Quzatli to the sovereign, Oh mighty lord, if because I tell you the truth I am to die, nevertheless I am here in your presence and you may do what you wish to me! He narrated that mounted men would come to this land in a great wooden house [ships] this structure was to lodge many men, serving them as a home; within they would eat and sleep. Most modern-day Mexicans are of mixed Aztec and European ancestry. Three Great Civilizations . . When the Spanish saw the resources that the Aztecs had, they quickly started taking advantage of the Aztecs weaknesses. The Mayan empire consisted of many different city states that only linked through trade, political alliances, and tribute obligation. Gender roles were not as fixed as they were in the patriarchal societies of Europe, Mesoamerica, and South America. The Aztec civilization used pyramid-like structures in their religious rites. -The League of the Iroquois contained 5 tribes; the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga. Each peasant also worked for the Inca ruler a number of days per month on public works projects, a requirement known as the mita. This scenario is an. Furthermore, many of the Illinois actually preferred to interact with French colonialists. FACT 1: After the Glorious Revolution, Parliament was sovereign in the British Empire. They built most of their great cities between A.D. 250 and A.D. 900. Located about fifty miles northwest of Cusco, Peru, at an altitude of about 8,000 feet, the city had been built in 1450 and inexplicably abandoned roughly a hundred years later. Scholars believe the city was used for religious ceremonial purposes and housed the priesthood. Many of the mounds that were opened by archaeologists contained artworks and other goods that indicate their society was socially stratified. Not too long after they arrived, the Aztecs realized that the Spanish could be killed just like their other enemies, so they went to war. Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you. 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 . The empire fell in 1533. around 10-20 million people, and they controlled most of. The Central African Empire was a short-lived and self-proclaimed "imperial" one-party state ruled by an absolute monarch that replaced the Central African Republic. They lived in the mountains of Peru, far removed from the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs, and at the peak of their power, the civilization extended for 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) and included 16 million people. The Aztecs worshipped Huitzilopochtli, the personification of the sun and war, and practiced human sacrifice. Much like feudal lords in Europe at the time, the ruling class lived off the labor of the peasants, collecting vast wealth that accompanied them as they went, mummified, into the next life. It is almost impossible to believe that a small amount of Spanish soldiers were able to conquer the mighty Aztec empire in this historic battle., The worshiped a war-god, called Huitzilopochtli, which he was identified with the sun and their war god. The Inca people worshipped their lord who, as a member of an elite ruling class, had absolute authority over every aspect of life. The Inca civilization can be traced back to about A.D. 1200. But in 1493, Spanish-born Pope Alexander VI issued two papal decrees giving legitimacy to Spains Atlantic claims over the claims of Portugal. I've read that the reasons for Spanish conquest could be summed up with three words: "Gold, Glory, God.". However, the Pueblo people were skillful in developing different waterways for their agriculture system, they successfully domesticated animals, and they had similar . Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. Most of these Native nations also had similar levels of technology to one another. In South America, the most highly developed and complex society was that of the Inca, whose name means lord or ruler in the Andean language called Quechua. They devised a written mathematical system to record crop yields and the size of the population, and to assist in trade. The Inca architecture incorporated natural beauty yet creating an amazing mixture of geometrical and natural forms. Maya also used a three-symbol numerical system that allowed them to record numbers into millions. 3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others. In times of dire emergency, however, such as in the aftermath of earthquakes, volcanoes, or crop failure, they resorted to sacrificing prisoners. . A large amount of Aztec poetry survives, as it was collected during the conquest. The Olmec built aqueducts to transport water into their cities and irrigate their fields. Google Apps. 1. Society was divided between pipiltin (nobles) and macehualli (commoners), and was led by an Emperor. They also varied greatly, however, in their ways of life, languages, politics, religious views and the ways in which they cared for their people. Why is the Elizabethan age called the Golden Age of England? Direct link to trell2267's post Why didn't the spanish ju, Posted 2 years ago. It is hard to overlook the fact that they had remarkable similarities, but also some differences. The spanish, of course, wanted power over natives and africans (and justified their power and enforced it through various means), so created the caste system. Posted 4 years ago. Its road system, kept free of debris and repaired by workers stationed at varying intervals, rivaled that of the Romans and efficiently connected the sprawling empire. Aztec civilization was built around corn cultivation. What were the 34 most significant differences between ideas of regional identity in the North and in the South during the Civil War? The Spanish also conquered the Pueblo Indians by the end of the sixteenth century. The Inca had no written language. After reaching Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Capital, the Spaniards were initially greeted as foreign ambassadors. The Inca buildings were in uniformity with huge imperial structures. Runners called chasquis traversed the roads in a continuous relay system, ensuring quick communication over long distances. All Rights Reserved. Subjugating surrounding tribes and requiring tribute of both humans for sacrifice and goods for consumption, the island city of Tenochtitln was the hub of an ever-widening commercial center and the equal of any large European city until Corts destroyed it. How did native people shape the course of Spanish conquest? 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 Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in 1521, led by Hernando Cortes, was a landmark victory for the European settlers. The Inca had no system of writing, however. Women typically cultivated corn, beans, and squash and harvested nuts and berries, while men hunted, fished, and provided protection. On the way, Cortes met resistance from other locals, who he eventually conquered and absolved into his army as allies. University of Arizona Library Special Collections, British Museums World Cultures collection, http://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/us-history, Locate on a map the major American civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish, Discuss the cultural achievements of these civilizations, Discuss the differences and similarities between lifestyles, religious practices, and customs among the native peoples. Why did the Spanish choose to enslave native people? Respect was out of the question then, as now, when people of one race consider themselves to be superior to people of other races. They had cannons on their ships and carried shields and swords, while the Aztecs had spears and wooden shields. They caught some of the Spanish, killed some of them, even ate some. The Mayas architectural and mathematical contributions were significant. Due to this difference in worldview the Aztecs weapons were also different from the European weapons that the Spanish used. This map indicates the locations of the three Pueblo cultures the major Eastern Woodland Indian tribes, and the tribes of the Southeast, as well as the location of the ancient city of Cahokia. The Aztecs, on the other hand, did not know Cortes. The Spanish did not return the favor, eventually kidnapping Emperor Montezuma and, using him as a puppet, ran the country. Detective Stanton and a newly hired officer, Stankowitcz (awaiting to go to the academy), When you build a truth table for a claim, you. From the beginning Cortes made moves to openly try to undermined Monctezuma. Compare And Contrast Aztec And Inca Empire 1214 Words | 5 Pages . I visited Chichen Itza yesterday and got confused between the 2 civilizations, so this really helped clear things up. Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador conquered the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain, in the 16th century. 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. 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 . Finally, the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan and overpower the Aztec in 1521. A drawing depicting Malintzin translating for Cortez and Aztes. Researchers believe that about ten thousand years ago, humans also began the domestication of plants and animals, adding agriculture as a means of sustenance to hunting and gathering techniques. Thus, depending on what part of the New World they explored, the Europeans encountered peoples that diverged widely in their cultures, traditions, and numbers. Their exact relationship with the Olmecs remains unclear. With the arrival of Spanish settlers, the Navajo . According to legend, the god Quetzalcoatl, characterized by light skin, red hair, and light eyes, was supposed to return to earth. 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. There was quite a bit of gold coming in. They each became strong and successful because of the different ways of adapting to the region they lived in and the many achievements that they made in their civilization which influence us today., I think the Aztecs were more impressive, in one of the captions I read that one of their squares was twice as large as the city of Salamanca surrounded by porticoes daily sixty thousand people are buying and selling all kinds of merchandise that the world has to offer embracing the necessaries things of life. It stretched from modern-day Colombia in the north to Chile in the south and included cities built at an altitude of 14,000 feet above sea level. The Inca people would weave colorful woolen cloths, which served as blankets for those who could afford them. ("Compare and Contrast the Spaniards' Attitudes toward the Native Essay", n.d.) . Still, these tribes shared some common traits. The indigenous groups of the Mississippi River Valley initially made contact with French Jesuits in the seventeenth century. Conclusion To conclude, the article, "Some Aztec and Pueblo" by Elsie Clews Parsons focuses on the parallels between Aztec and Pueblo cultures. This led to a severe population decline, and Pueblo Indians died en mass. All children were educated until age 14. Mayan languages are spoken by at least 6 million indigenous Maya, primarily in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and Honduras. Among these were the Pyramid of the Sun (which is two hundred feet high) and the Pyramid of the Moon (one hundred and fifty feet high). Finally, Maya was the first who created a writing system as well as used calendars. Many city states over time. Compare And Contrast Essay On The Aztecs. Kilometers. The Aztec Triple Alliance or Aztec Empire (Nahuatl: xcn Tlahtlyn) began as an alliance of three Nahua city-states or "altepeme": Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. Located in todays Peru at an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet, Machu Picchu was a ceremonial Incan city built about 1450 CE. Some Aztec and Pueblo Parallels by Elsie Clews, Parsons (1933), is one such study that aims to argue the similarities between the Aztec and, Pueblo culture. Foxiz News Network. What factors lead to their demise? Image credit: Map of de Coronado's route through Mexico and the Southwest of the modern United States. So did the Caste System decide who got certain rights and places of power or was it merely a way of categorizing the people? These are popular choices in the market; let us discuss some of the major differences: 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. But due to where they started, other aspects of their. Expert Answer. On the surface of this house they would cook their food, walk and play as if they were on firm land. The estimated total of their population was around 10 - 20 million people , and they controlled most of central Mexico . According to legend, the Aztecs saw a vision telling them to settle on an island in Lake Texcoco, which they did in 1325 CE. They developed a distinctive artistic style for painting bowls with finely drawn geometric figures and wildlife, especially birds, in black on a white background. The Maya were located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and they were also located in parts of Guatemala and Belize. Buy this bundle and save considerably . By the end of this section, you will be able to: (credit: modification of work by Architect of the Capitol). What remains of their culture today are huge burial mounds and earthworks. The Mayans were known for their pyramids as well. Like the Europeans, the Aztecs were a patriarchal society, kept children in line, and considered marriage extremely important., While the ancient civilizations of the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Empires were all very different and unique in their own ways. One major Mayan city was Chichen Itza, 1000 to 1450 CE. Latest answer posted October 06, 2019 at 11:40:56 AM. The city lasted until 1521 CE. Which of these arguments are valid ? 2022 - EDUCBA. While there are many other events to choose from, this one stands out since it was one over one of the largest empires in Central America. One of the most significant and defining of those conquests is the downfall of the Mexica/Aztec Empire. The Aztec Empire began with an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan in order to defeat Azcapotzalco. In the past, they lived in small camps consisting of small, dome-shaped wood and mud dwellings called hogans. In the 1480s, Pope Sixtus IV had granted Portugal the right to all land south of the Cape Verde islands, leading the Portuguese king to claim that the lands discovered by Columbus belonged to Portugal, not Spain. These foretellings were recorded after the Aztecs destruction. Monumental sculptures were mainly favorite. The Maya civilization ended up falling, whereas the Inca and Aztec civilizations ended up being conquered by the Spanish. Conquistadores and Spanish colonization. Aztec and Pueblo cultures and how they were similar to each other. Instead, they communicated and kept records by means of a system of knots and colored strings called the quipu. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Peasants received only one-third of their crops for themselves. The continuities and changes of both regions may be attributed to their relative geographic isolationism, with few outside forces affecting the religion of people in Mesoamerica., Among the many ancient civilizations in Latin America, the Incas were one of a kind. The Aztecs didnt try to kill the Spaniards but instead tried to use them as sacrifices. Each side contains ninety-one steps to the top. These accomplishments established them as advanced societies during their time without the influence of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. They were good farmers, artists, mathematicians, and astronomers. 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. 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. Lastly, each civilization had a decline. 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. Maya was ruled by prince and priests and was not abolished like other cultures but moderately disappeared. Corts, for example, is notoriously known for collecting all of the Aztec priests and having them fed to rabid dogs, while Pizarro famously murdered the wife of Emperor Manco Inca, who was serving as a puppet governor for the Spanish empire at the time. 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 Aztec empire was composed of over . Direct link to d042's post how do I Define the term , Posted 3 years ago. These weren't the Maya or Aztecs of Mexico. 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 lack of Gold and the Natives' sophistication. 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. They were extremely advanced and had an army, laws, roads, bridges, tunnels, and a complicated irrigation system far ahead of its time. A ruling class of warrior nobles and priests performed ritual human sacrifice daily to sustain the sun on its long journey across the sky, to appease or feed the gods, and to stimulate agricultural production. Columbus's discovery opened a floodgate of Spanish exploration. Leaving native people alone would not satisfy the blood lust of the Conquistadores, or the gold fever that drew them to want to take whatever they saw of value. The Aztecs were a Nahuatl speaking nation of central Mexico, in MesoAmerica. The Empire reached its greatest spread in 1519 CE, just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the area. However, when it came to the roles and expectations of men and women, there are differences between the three races., Before Spanish conquistadors conquered Central and South America the Aztec empire and the Mayan empire were in control. 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.