Compare+the+Incas+and+Aztecs+in+terms+of+economic+exchanges

The Incas and Aztecs were two of the largest native empires in the Americas. While they were culturally similar, their economic exchanges were very different:

Inca economy:
 * Did not generate large classes of merchants and artisans [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2.jpg width="218" height="109" align="right"]]
 * On a local level Incas traded handcrafted goods among themselves
 * Essential government controlled long distance trade
 * Inca state did not permit individuals to become independent merchants
 * In an absence of market economy a large class of professional skilled artisans did not emerge
 * Fine goods were reserved for the ruling priestly and the aristocrats
 * Peasants worked the land and gave over a portion of their produce to the state
 * Besides supporting ruling classes, revenue also used for famine relief
 * Peasants also provided heavy labor for public works
 * Cloth was the most valuable trade object and among the most difficult to produce

Aztec economy:
 * The Aztec empire spread its wealth because of the tribute system
 * Merchants took goods to distant lands and exchanged them for local products
 * They assembled tributes for all land that they conquered
 * Tenochtitlan was a wealthy economic center
 * Cocoa beans were the equivalent to a currency
 * The market had separate sections for merchants dealing in gold, silver, slaves, henequen and cotton cloth shoes, animal skins turkeys dogs wild game maize beans peppers cacao and fruits

Comparisons: Aztecs: Incas //Validated by: Armando Covarrubias -Pretty good information, maybe include some of the societies with whom both traded? -What did the Inca replace a currecny system with? -Why were merchants considered imporant in the Aztec society but not in the Incan?
 * Open land geography allows aztecs to trade with others and expand their empire
 * Aztecs had an established currency systems with the precious cacao beans
 * Gave merchants more freedom and a higher rank in society
 * Empire was secluded in the mountians causing them to have little or no interaction with nearby societies.
 * one of many to have a thriving economy without a currency system
 * Did not consider merchants as an important class in society

Validated by: Amy Gilson -Good information; pretty easy to read -Nice pictures -Don't forget links

Validated by: Sean RIley, Ciara Miller -Good information -Need links -Why were merchants important in Aztec empire and not in Inca empire?//