AX wrote:Why did the Inca, Aztec and Pueblo civilizations of South and Central America not conquer North America?
A good question. An intelligent question. It made me think. Hmmmmmm.
Aha! I think I got it!
Consider this map of South America:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/ ... _ref04.jpg
The Amazon river basin was dense rain forest, populated by snakes, alligators, piranha fish, biting insects, etc. Not a good place for human habitation.
So the habitable parts of South America were, continentally speaking, relatively small areas: The narrow coastal strip west of the Andes, the Guiana Highlands, the Brazilian Highlands, the Pampas of Argentina, Uruguay and the southernmost end of Brazil, etc.
To have an empire, the Emperor must be able to subjugate the people, force them to obey him, pay taxes, etc. There were no horses in America before the white man came. The Indians did not have the wheel. So no wagons or carts. So the Aztec, Inca or Pueblo emperors had to maintain their domains using only foot soldiers. This was doable in the relatively small habitable areas of South and Central America.
But consider this map of North America:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/ ... f_2007.jpg
Continentally huge habitable areas. Very difficult to police with foot soldiers.
Consider the following scenario: a Hopi village halfway between Albuquerque and El Paso is visited by an army of Emperor Incafukka of the Incas:
General Inc . . . . . . : "Kneel down and submit to the great Emperor Incafukka!"
Chief Hopi (eyeing the soldiers and kneeling)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .: "All praise the mighty Emperor Incafukka."
General Inc . . . . . . : "When I return in a year, you must supply to the great Emperor Incafukka ten baskets of corn and twelve virgins for human sacrifice."
Chief Hopi . . . . . . . : "All praise the mighty Emperor Incafukka. It shall be done"
Next day at a gathering of the village adults:
Chief Hopi . . . . . . . .: "We are moving the village. At least ten days journey away from here to the north. Then we post a band of warrior sentries two days journey south of the new village. If any of those fucking Incas approach the new village then the sentries alert the village so we can evacuate. And we attack them by night as we are able to. Some arrows in the throat. Some slit throats. That sort of thing. Any questions?
Villagers . . . . . . . . . : "No questions O chief. A good plan."
Chief Hopi . . . . . . . . : "Screw Emperor Incafukka!"
Villagers . . . . . . . . . .: "Yes. Screw Emperor Incafukka!"
Twelve months later, near the site of the old Hopi village:
General Inc . . . . . . . .: "Where the hell is that fucking Hopi village? It was around here someplace, wasn't it?"
Inca scout . . . . . . . . .: "I don't know, General. There is no sign of it."
General Inc . . . . . . . .: "Well find it, damn you. You're supposed to be a scout, aren't you?"
Inca scout . . . . . . . . .: "Yes General." (Fuck you. Asshole.)
And that, imo, is why the Inca, Aztec and Pueblo civilizations of South and Central America did not conquer North America.
Regards,
Maloun