South%20America%20Civilizations

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South America Civilizations

• Incan Empire

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Geography of South America

• The Andes mountains have several impacts on life
  in S. America.
• Provide large amounts rainfall to the west
  (Westward Side of Mountains).
• Provide very little rainfall to the east (Leeward
  Side of Mountains.)
• Provides somewhat defensible barrier.

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Geography Cont

• Look at the western portion of South America.
  This region receives very little rainfall.

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Early South American Civilizations

• Chavin
• 900-200 BC
• Moche
• 400 BC- 600 AD
• Nazca
• 200 BC- 600 AD
• Nazca Lines

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Background of the Incas

• Empire extended along the Pacific coast and
  Andean highlands.
• Consisted of modern Chile Peru.
• Inca originated in village of Paqari-tampu, about
  15mi south of Cuzco
• Official language Quecha

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The Incan Empire

• Rapid expansion occurred from the 1400s to
  1500s.
• Pachacuti- (died 1471) he was the Incan leader
  from 1438 to 1471.
• With the help of his son, Topa Inca, he extended
  the Incan empire through the use of military
  force and political alliances.
• See the different stages of expansion under each
  ruler.

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Incan Government

• At the height of the empire in the 1500s
• Had a population of 12 Million People.
• Common people paid a labor tax, or mita.
• Women could weave cloth to pay this.
• Men could work on government owned farms, mines,
  or help build roads.
• A quipa (set of colored and knotted cords) helped
  keep a system of record keeping. gtgt Cant read or
  translate records.
• Tax Records
• Quantities of livestock
• Censuspopulation data.

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Incan Government cont

• Capital City Cuzco (1438)
• When the Incan conquered new villages they had a
  system of forced resettlement for old local
  leaders, and instead would empower new leaders
  loyal to the Inca Empire.
• Had a road system but it was only used by
  government officials or military.
• Private Property was forbidden
• Citizens taken care of by the empire
• Crime is almost nonexistent.

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Incan Economy

• There were no merchants or markets as we know
  them in the Incan Empire.
• Government controlled all goods
• The government would distribute goods to all the
  citizens.
• Extra food or goods were stored away for times of
  need.

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Economic Developments

1. Constructed aquaducts, cities, temples,
   fortresses, short rock tunnels, suspension
   bridges, 2250mi road system
2. Metal works of alloy, copper, tin, bronze,
   silver, gold
3. Developed important medical practices- surgery on
   human skull, anesthesia
4. Resources- corn, potatoes, coffee, grain
5. Created woven baskets, woodwinds

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Incan Religion

• Polytheistic religion
• Inti-the sun god is the main figure worshipped.
• People pray to the gods because they were seen to
  control nature.
• Things offered to the Gods.
• food, clothing, and drink
• Rituals included forms of
• Divination prediction,
• Sacrifice of humans and animals

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Incan Society

• Ayllu was a cooperative community consisting of
  several families.
• 10 Ayllus needs one chief
• Classes
• Upper Class
• King, Government Officials, Priests
• Lower Class
• Farmers, Artisans, Servants
• No Slaves in Incan Society

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Incan Achievements

• Architecture Building
• Temples, forts, and roads
• Incans were skilled builders. Even today its
  nearly impossible to slip a knife blade between
  building stones.
• Arts
• Metalworking
• Intricate ornaments of gold and silver.
• Very few pieces left today because of the Spanish
  Conquistadors.
• Weaving
• Different patterns for different levels of
  society. You could tell who was is a certain
  class based on what they wore.

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Factors of Decline

• The Inca Empire lasted only about a 100 years.
• (1532) Spanish Arrival in Peru
• Internal Conflicts
• Disease

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THATS ALL FOLKS!