What is the Difference Between Aztecs and Incas?

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The Aztecs and Incas were two distinct civilizations that existed in South America before the arrival of Europeans. They had different geographical locations, governance systems, and cultural practices:

  1. Geographical Locations: The Aztecs were centered in Central Mexico between 1325 AD and 1523 AD, while the Incas lived in the South Eastern Coast of South America, specifically in the Andes mountains in Peru.
  2. Governance Systems: The Incas had a centralized imperial system with a divine ruler, while the Aztecs had a more decentralized system with power shared among city-states.
  3. Cultural Practices: The Aztecs were known for their war-like nature and the practice of human sacrifice. They believed in the sacrifice of their enemies and played a ball game called Tlatchli, in which the losers were sacrificed. In contrast, the Incas were considered a gentler people, with notable achievements in road construction and agriculture.
  4. Military and Expansion: The Aztecs were known for their fierce military and their ability to conquer vast territories, creating an extensive empire. The Incas, on the other hand, were a more unified and peaceful civilization.
  5. Architecture and Technology: Both civilizations had impressive architectural and technological achievements, but they were distinct. The Incas were known for their excellent system of roads, advanced agriculture, and sophisticated numbering system based on knots in ropes. The Aztecs were known for their monumental architecture, including the great capital of Tenochtitlan built on an island in Lake Texcoco.

In summary, the Aztecs and Incas were two distinct South American civilizations with different geographical locations, governance systems, cultural practices, military and expansion strategies, and architectural and technological achievements.

Comparative Table: Aztecs vs Incas

The Aztecs and Incas were two remarkable civilizations that thrived in the Americas at different points in history. Here is a table comparing their differences:

Feature Aztecs Incas
Location Mexico, Central America South America (Andes Mountains, lowlands, and deserts)
Territory Covered Mexico, Central America Vast territory stretching from Quito, Ecuador to the Maule River in Chile
Religion Worshiped multiple gods, including the sun Worshiped the sun
Calendar Developed a calendar Developed a calendar
Agriculture Developed floating agricultural gardens Built extensive roads and bridges
Architecture Known for their masonry skills, built high on a jungle mountainside Not known for their masonry skills, but built high on a jungle mountainside
Brain Surgery Not known as a brain surgery Known for their brain surgery
Ritual Sacrifice Ritually sacrificed "perfect" children to their gods, abandoning them in freezing mountaintop caves Sacrificed "perfect" children to their gods, abandoning them in freezing mountaintop caves
Militarism Not a militaristic people Not a militaristic people
Span of Control 14,000 miles of roads and bridges, traversable by foot or horseback

The Aztecs and Incas had some similarities, such as worshiping the sun and developing calendars. However, they also had distinct differences, such as their territories, agricultural practices, and masonry skills.