Compare And Contrast Aztec And Inca Empires

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In both of the written accounts by Hernan Cortes and Pedro de Cieza de Léon, a unique perceptive is given about the Aztec and Inca empires in the early 1500s. Both men describe the their seemingly first ever encounters with the indigenous people of the new world. Cortes recounts his interaction with Moctezuma and de Léon gives an impressive review of the Inca’s “well-organized” villages and provinces. Cortes’ account first tells about the sheer beauty of the Aztec empire with its streets that were, “very wide and beautiful and so straight that you can see from one end to the other. (Cortes)” The city that Cortes visited and the overall Aztec empire is assumingly a place where its people genuinely cared for the architecture and place of living for citizens. Also from Cortes’ account, the peacefulness of the Aztec people is highlighted as Moctezuma states, “‘… in this there shall be no offense of betrayal whatsoever.’ (Cortes)” Cortes describes Mocetezuma to be an obedience and nonviolent man which …show more content…

De Léon focuses on the Incas righteousness as he states, “The Incas took care to see that justice was meted out, so much so that nobody ventured to commit a felony of theft. (de Léon)” This statement shows that the Inca people upheld standards of honor, justice, and mutual respect in their empire. This account also highlights the strong work ethic of the Inca Empire as de Léon says, “No one who was lazy or tried to live by the work of others was tolerated; everyone had to work. (de Léon)” With this, it can be assumed that the Inca people lived within a possibly harsh system of government where those who don’t work, don’t receive the same treatment, respect, or means of survival as those who do. Not tolerating laziness shows that the Inca people built their empire from the effort of those in their