Explain how the Aztec and Inca were similar in their political interactions. (1 point)
Iten
• They both built roads to trade goods within their empires
• They both imposed worship of the sun god.
• They both kept local rulers in charge but demanded tribute
• They both used the pochteca to maintain control.
The Aztec and Inca civilizations were similar in their political interactions in several ways. First, both empires built roads to facilitate trade and communication within their territories. The Aztecs constructed an extensive network of roads that stretched across their empire, allowing for the easy movement of goods and resources. Similarly, the Inca Empire constructed a vast road system known as the Inca Road, which spanned thousands of miles and linked their various territories.
Second, both the Aztecs and Incas imposed the worship of a central deity. The Aztecs revered the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, and believed that his favor was crucial to the success and prosperity of their empire. Similarly, the Incas worshipped Inti, the sun god, whom they considered the highest deity in their pantheon. Both civilizations incorporated religious practices and rituals into their political systems, using the worship of the sun god to legitimize their rule and maintain social order.
Third, both the Aztecs and Incas followed a system of governance that allowed local rulers to maintain some authority but demanded tribute from them. The Aztecs employed a system known as the tribute system, where they allowed local rulers to maintain their positions as long as they paid tribute in the form of goods and resources to the Aztec emperor. Similarly, the Incas implemented a system called mit'a, which required local communities to provide labor and resources to the empire in exchange for protection and stability.
Finally, both the Aztecs and Incas utilized specialized merchant groups to maintain control and facilitate trade. The Aztecs relied on a class of traders known as the pochteca, who were responsible for long-distance trade and acted as a means of exchange between the various regions of the empire. Likewise, the Incas had a group of specialized traders called the poqpo, who played a similar role in ensuring the flow of goods and resources between different parts of the empire.
In conclusion, the Aztec and Inca civilizations shared several similarities in their political interactions. They both built roads to enable trade, imposed the worship of the sun god, employed a system of tribute from local rulers, and utilized specialized merchant groups as a means of maintaining control. These similarities demonstrate how both civilizations had similar approaches to governance and maintained political stability within their empires.