Aztec And Inca Empires

Pre-Columbian America is perhaps the most exotic period of American history for a number of reasons. The diversity of the region is unparalleled, furthered by the rapid succession of empires with great focus on culture. Great mysteries also come from this period. The sudden decline of powerful empires like the Maya and Moche puzzle scholars to this day. Human sacrifice also played a major role in religion throughout parts of this region. Through all of the intrigue, two great civilizations rose to prominence prior to Spanish conquest of the continent. The Aztec and Inca Empires were two powerful, yet vastly different sovereigns with a myriad of similarities to early empires in Europe and Asia. The Inca Empire exerted authority over its subject through a means of public labor. This program, called mita by the Inca, was central to the building of an extensive road system which allowed them to rule so comprehensively, much like the Roman Empire had centuries prior. With over 14,000 miles of road across the 2,600 mile expanse of the empire, the Inca ruled the largest dominion in American history prior to European conquest. The roads were a profound tool to the Inca …show more content…
Both rapidly rose to power and dominated their region until the Spanish conquerors led to their downfall. Inca society was more community oriented while Aztec society demanded tribute and put themselves above their subjects. Each dominion had powerful leader; Itzcoatl helped legitimize Aztec rule while Pachacuti stifled a rebellion and expanded Inca rule. Both empires had varying similarities to Chinese, Roman, and Egyptian rule, whom they had no prior contact with until Spanish explorers met the Aztecs in 1519 and the Inca in 1532, The Inca and Aztec Empires were certainly the two most vast, powerful empires of pre-Columbian