Describes the main points of the Inca and Aztec Civilizations.

1. Aztec, and Inca
Civilizations

2. Aztecs

3. Where did the Aztecs live?
 The Aztecs lived in what is known as the
Valley of Mexico in central Mexico.

4. Tenochtitlan
 Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the
Aztec Empire.

5. Legend of Tenochtitlan
The gods told the Aztecs to search for an
eagle holding a snake in its beak perched
atop a cactus. This is where they were to
build their capital city. The Aztecs saw
this sign on a swampy island in lake
Texcoco.

6. Legend of Tenochtitlan

7. Tenochtitlan
 Today, Tenochtitlan is
Mexico City

8. Government
 The Aztecs created an empire through
conquest
 Conquered people and local rulers had to
pay tribute to the Aztecs
 The Aztecs had an emperor
 The Aztec Emperor’s main job was to lead
in war

9. Religion & Mythology
 Aztecs were polytheistic
 Huitzilopochtli was
the main Aztec god.
 The Aztecs built massive temples and
pyramids dedicated to their gods

10. Religion & Mythology
Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon

11. Hernando Cortes
 Born around 1485 in Spain
 He came from a noble family
 Between 1504-1511, he made expeditions
to Hispaniola and Cuba
 In 1518, Cortes set sail to Mexico with 500
men and 11 ships

13. Conquering the Aztecs
 Upon arrival, the Spaniards formed alliances with
the Native People who hated Aztec rule
 Eventually the Spaniards reached the capital,
Tenochtitlan
 Montezuma, the Aztec leader, tried to get the
Spaniards to leave by giving them riches

15. Conquering the Aztecs
 Cortes then captured Montezuma and tried to
rule the Aztecs by giving commands through
Montezuma
 Eventually fighting broke out between the
Spanish/Spanish allies and the Aztecs in 1520
 The Spanish lost 1,800 men and left
Tenochtitlan

16. Conquering the Aztecs
 In May 1521, Cortes led his men back to Tenochtitlan
 The Aztecs became severely weakened by the spread of
small pox, which had been brought over by the Spanish
 Tenochtitlan fell in August 1521 and lay in ruins
 The Spanish built up the city again and called it Mexico
City

17. Aztec Video Clips
“Engineering An Empire”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?Vide
oID=6255
“What the Ancients Did For Us”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?Vide
oID=10964

18. Inca

19. Where did the Inca live?
 The Inca controlled an empire in the Andes
Mountain region of South America.

20. Government
 The Sapa Inca (emperor) had absolute power.
 The emperor claimed to be the son of the sun.
 The emperor was also the empire’s religious
leader.
 The empire was divided into four regions with
the capital at Cuzco.

21. Uniting the Empire
 The Inca built a massive road network
through mountains and across rivers and
gorges.

22. Stonework
 The Inca constructed stone temples without
using mortars yet the stones fit together so well
that a knife would not fit between the stones.

23. Religion
 The Inca were polytheistic.
 The primary god was Inti, the sun god.

24. Medical Advances
 The Inca performed successful skull
surgery.
 The Inca also used medicines to make
patients unconscious during surgery

25. Francisco Pizarro
 Was born in 1476 in Spain
 He came from humble/poor beginnings
 Desired to explore the New World in search of
fame and fortune
 Discovered the Pacific Ocean along with Vasco
Nunez de Balboa

27. The Fall of the Incas
 Pizarro came to Peru in 1531 with 180 men
 The Spaniards attacked, killed thousands of
Incas, and took the leader, Atahualpa captive
 Atahualpa gave the Spanish gold and treasures
to save his life but was killed anyway
 With Atahualpa dead, the civilization collapsed
and Spain took over Peru

28. Inca Video Clip
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?Vide
oID=2301