The first
tribes from Asia reached America about 25,000
years ago, across the Bering Straits. And about 4,000 years ago, they learned how to grow maize.
Their first
great civilization (circa 600 A.D.) – on the Central American plateau - was that of the Maya Indians. They lived in large towns, and built great stepped pyramids which were temples for their gods. They were succeeded by the Toltecs.
After the fall of the Toltec empire, savages invaded the land. Among these savages were the Aztecs. They settled on a sandy island on the Lake of Tezcuco, where Mexico City now stands. Their chief married the daughter of the local leader, then murdered her as a human sacrifice. This gruesome action terrified the neighboring tribes, and started a war in which the Aztecs emerged victorious.
The Aztecs then began to spread their power. They fought against some cities, and made alliances with others. Although they possessed neither wheels or horses, they marched further and further. Though they could neither write poetry or paint pottery, these barbarians succeeded in bringing the civilized peoples of Central America under their yoke.
However the brave Tlaxcalans, who valued their freedom and preferred to die in battle rather than be enslaved,
resisted them. The Tlaxcalans made an alliance with Cortes and his small band of soldiers, and invaded the Aztec territory. The Aztecs resisted fiercely, but were defeated in the end. Their tyranny had run its course…
About 3,000 years ago, many small tribes had made their way into South America. On the Andes plateau (Peru), they learned how to grow wild potatoes for food, and domesticated the llama for its wool and for carrying heavy loads.
In the fifteenth century, the Inca empire was founded by Inca Manco, who claimed to be descended from the Sun god. Inca Manco became the
leader of the Cuzco tribe. The Incas later extended their rule over many other tribes. It is important to understand that the Incas were a family, and not a distinct tribe. They spoke the Quechua language.
The Incas were great lawmakers and builders – they made roads paved with stone for their army and their traders. They built rest houses for travellers, and stores to be used in times of famine. Runners were used to carry messages across vast distances. Inca civilization was orderly, and regulated. Everybody had a place, and their was a use for everybody.
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