“Warfare was essential to the maintenance and expansion of political organization.” Discuss with reference to one pre-Columbian society.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that warfare was essential to the maintenance and expansion of political organization. Candidates may offer equal coverage of warfare's contributions to maintenance of power and to its role in terms of expansion, or they may prioritize the discussion of either one. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to warfare as a means to legitimize leaders through the acquisition of sacrificial victims to offer to Gods (for example, the Flower Wars of the Aztecs). They could also discuss warfare's role in suppressing internal rebellions that challenged established authority and to accessing economic resources to prevent internal rebellions. Candidates may also refer to warfare in its ability to expand the political organization, subjugating neighbours and achieving military dominance. To illustrate, they may refer to the struggle between Mayan city states Calakmul and Tikal.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balance review of the statement that warfare was essential to the maintenance and expansion of political organizations. While the demands of the question were most often understood, the majority of responses were descriptive. However, a few of the responses demonstrated depth of knowledge on the Aztecs and Incas.