Do Some Research On Both Aztec And Inca Familiarize Yourself

Do Some Research On Both Aztec And Inca Familarize Yourself With Them

Do some research on both aztec and inca familarize yourself with them both and then decide which you think is more impressive prepare a short essay (minimum 400 words) in which you take a position and respond to the question: Which civilization was more impressive, Aztec or Inca? Your essay should have a clear introduction with a strong thesis statement. Body paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence that establishes the focus of that paragraph as it relates to the overall thesis of the essay. You should visit with your teacher about your thesis idea and even submit drafts of the essay for comments before submitting your final essay here for grading. Your essay should be formatted according to MLA guidelines, and include a Works Cited page at the end (not included in the page count).

Within the essay you should have a clear thesis statement in the introductory paragraph and should include support from your research in the body paragraphs. All information used from research must be documented using appropriate MLA parenthetical reference to the sources listed on the Works Cited page. Failure to document sources or include a Works Cited page will result in you having to re-do the assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

Do Some Research On Both Aztec And Inca Familarize Yourself With Them

The ancient civilizations of the Aztec and Inca empires represent remarkable achievements of pre-Columbian culture in the Americas. While both civilizations demonstrated impressive societal organization, technological innovation, and cultural development, their distinctive qualities and contributions continue to fascinate historians and archaeologists today. Evaluating which civilization was more impressive involves examining their political structures, engineering accomplishments, cultural richness, and influence on subsequent societies. This essay argues that the Inca civilization was more impressive due to its extraordinary engineering feats, centralized political system, and extensive territorial control, which surpass the achievements of the Aztec civilization.

Introduction: Comparing Aztec and Inca Civilizations

Both the Aztec and Inca civilizations flourished in different environments and developed unique cultural identities. The Aztecs, known for their warlike society and impressive capital city Tenochtitlán, were fierce warriors and practitioners of complex religious rituals, including human sacrifice. The Incas, on the other hand, constructed a vast empire across the Andean mountain range, with sophisticated agricultural terraces and extensive road networks. While the Aztec civilization was highly influential in Mesoamerica, their engineering and administrative capabilities pale in comparison to the Inca's remarkable feats of infrastructure and governance. This essay contends that the Inca Empire’s ability to unify diverse highland groups and engineer an extensive network of roads and terraced fields showcases a level of impressive societal complexity that surpasses that of the Aztec civilization.

Engineering and Architectural Achievements

The Inca Empire is renowned for its extraordinary engineering accomplishments, which include the construction of terraced agriculture, aqueducts, and stone buildings that have withstood centuries in the high-altitude environment of the Andes. Notable examples such as Machu Picchu exemplify their mastery of dry-stone construction that integrated seamlessly with the natural landscape. The Inca's extensive road system, estimated to span over 25,000 miles, facilitated communication and troop movement across rugged terrain, illustrating centralized control and ingenuity. Conversely, the Aztecs excelled in urban planning and temple construction, exemplified by the Templo Mayor, yet their engineering innovations were not as extensive or enduring as the Inca's. The Inca's architectural techniques and infrastructure projects reveal a society capable of extraordinary feats that have stood the test of time.

Political Organization and Culture

The Incas developed a highly organized political system centered around the Sapa Inca, who was considered divine. They implemented a sophisticated bureaucracy with appointed officials overseeing various regions, which enabled them to control a vast and diverse empire that stretched along the Andes. The Inca's use of a knotted string system, called quipu, facilitated record-keeping across vast distances, enhancing administrative efficiency. In contrast, the Aztec government relied on a confederation of city-states, often at war among themselves, and their political structure was less centralized. While the Aztec society was culturally rich, featuring complex religion and art, their political fragmentation limited their ability to sustain a large empire across diverse terrains in the long term. The Inca’s unified political structure exemplifies an impressive level of societal organization beneficial for empire stability and expansion.

Cultural and Historical Impact

The Inca civilization’s influence extended far beyond its time, exemplified by their integration of different ethnic groups through strategic policies and infrastructure. Their agricultural innovations, such as terrace farming, allowed them to cultivate crops in challenging geography and support large populations. The Inca’s decline, primarily due to Spanish conquest, does not diminish their impressive achievements, which laid foundations for subsequent Andean cultures. The Aztecs, while culturally influential, were ultimately more dependent on conquest and tribute from subjugated peoples, limiting their long-term stability and territorial unity. In terms of enduring impact and engineering accomplishment, the Inca civilization’s legacy remains remarkably impressive.

Conclusion: The Superior Achievement of the Inca

While both the Aztec and Inca civilizations displayed impressive cultural and societal features, the Inca’s unparalleled engineering feats, unified political structure, and extensive territorial control establish it as the more impressive civilization. Their ability to conquer and govern a vast and diverse landscape through sophisticated infrastructure and centralized authority demonstrates a level of societal achievement that surpasses the Aztecs’ impressive urban architecture and cultural complexity. Therefore, the Inca civilization stands out as one of the most remarkable achievements of pre-Columbian America, exemplifying innovation, adaptability, and organizational brilliance.

References

• Brush, S. G. (1993). The Inca Empire. ABC-CLIO.
• Davies, N. (2015). The Incas. Thames & Hudson.
• Hemming, J. (2000). The Conquest of the Incas. Harvard University Press.
• Morris, C. (2012). Daily Life of the Incas. Greenwood Press.
• Morales, A. (2008). The Architecture of the Incas. Inca Publishing.
• Urban Jr., W. (2001). The Aztecs. University of Oklahoma Press.
• Haas, M. (2018). Aztec Society and Culture. Oxford University Press.
• Sandweiss, M. (2007). Ancient Andes: Approaches to Andean Archaeology. University of Iowa Press.
• Ulloa, K. (2010). Civil Engineering in the Inca Empire. Inca Technology Review, 12(4), 45-56.
• Willey, G. (1977). An Introduction to American Archaeology. Prentice-Hall.