Final answer:
The Inca and Aztecs faced slavery or death for failing to pay tribute and taxes, which supported the social and economic systems of their empires. Forced labor and conversion to Christianity were imposed by Spanish colonizers through systems like the encomienda.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Inca and Aztec civilizations were both sophisticated and complex societies that flourished in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans. The Incas were known for their worship of the sun god Inti and built a vast empire in the Andean region. The Aztecs, centered in what is now Mexico, developed an empire through strategic military campaigns and alliances.
Both empires had intricate social classes and were noted for their impressive public works and rituals which were crucial to their political power. At the bottom of their social hierarchy were individuals who faced hard labor and even slavery, especially if they failed to meet certain obligations. In Aztec society, a serf or commoner could fall into slavery as a result of debt or failure to pay tribute and taxes. For the Incas, conquest, and diplomacy were methods of expanding their empire, and while they preferred voluntary surrender, they did resort to warfare when necessary.
In the context of Spanish colonization, conversion to Christianity was a significant issue that native peoples faced. The Spaniards created systems like the encomienda to exercise control over native labor, often justifying their dominance by claiming a right to spread Catholicism. Native populations were forced into hard labor in mines and plantations, often viewing death as preferable to the grueling work required under these systems.
It is important to note that the forced choice between slavery and death for the Inca and Aztecs was not specifically related to remaining loyal to a European monarch like King Charles V, nor to serving in the military; rather, their oppressive experiences often stemmed from the labor demands and religious conversion enforced by the colonizers. However, the most accurate answer to the original question—which obligation, if not fulfilled, might result in slavery or death—would be paying taxes or tribute, as this was a central element of the social and economic systems of both the Inca and Aztec societies.