>Tom,
>
>Sorry to toss this at you but I only have a couple minutes. I'll dig out the reference as soon as I can.
>
>>snip<
>
>>
>>An examination of the Inca Empire is of interest as it was the greatest socialistic system in the Americas and predated Marx and Engels by more than a few years. All was well until a few Europeans came for a visit in 1532 and decided to stay.
>
>>snip<
>
>Actually, just recently a discovery was made after a hurricane uncovered a bunch more steps at some Yucatan archeological site. Apparently the new glyphs explained that this one location, subject to the larger power finally rebelled and the Aztecs went into a prolonged state of civil war (essentially). The Aztecs didn't need any help from the Europeans with respect to killing each other and most certainly the Europeans didn't bring the ceremony of cutting one's opponent's heart out and eating it. <g>

Doug;

Recent discovery is that the Mayans were not the peaceful people they were once thought to be. They existed before the Aztec and were just as bloodthirsty. Spanish chroniclers recorded tens of thousands of human skulls piled outside of each city on the way to Mexico City. The closer you got the greater the number of heads.

As far as the Inca Empire referenced, they had little or no resemblance to the Aztec. I am well versed in North American and South American civilizations.

Tom