Incan Empire Ancient People of the Andes Mountains

Where in the world is the Inca Empire? Ran along the Western side of South America, the Andes Mountains to Chile Capital was called “Cuzco” (belly button of the world) Where is South America?

Inca Empire

Communication No written language Used a knotted rope called the Quipu to record data

Khipu (Talking Ropes) A khipu consists, minimally, of a main cord from which pendant cords hang. Knots tied in the pendant cords Records for Censuses (# people) Tribute records, and documents Inventories

Architecture Excellent architects with stone Built the strongest structures using stones laid flat against each other without any pieces sticking out. Still standing today in South America Had to learn to farm on raised ledges on the side of the mountain for survival

Agriculture Potatoes, tomatoes, corn, cotton, peanuts and cocoa Llama for meat and transportation More than enough resources available for everyone in empire

Cuzco The ancient Inca capital is said to have been founded around 1100 AD. Almost every central street has remains of Inca walls, arches and doorways. Many streets are lined with Inca stonework, now serving as foundations for more modern buildings.

Cuzco

Machu Picchu City in the clouds Laid out in sections. "royal" section where the stone work is the finest, the rooms are largest and running baths are nearby. Food for the inhabitants was grown on the agricultural terraces of the city.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

The End of a Civilization The Spaniards captured Atahuallpa and he ruled for eight months from a prison compound in the triangular plaza, keeping his authority unquestioned by any subject of the empire.  To secure his release, Atahuallpa decreed that the realm be ransacked to fill a 18-by-22-foot room once with gold, as high as he could reach, and twice with silver. Totally unaware that Pizarro's men began a massive European invasion, he thought the bearded ones would go away once they had received their booty.

By July 1533 more than 24 tons of exquisite treasure had been collected: idols and chalices, necklaces and nuggets. Though this was only a fraction of the plunder that awaited the Spaniards elsewhere in the Four Quarters of the World, Atahuallpa's ransom, as duly recorded in the Spanish archives, was worth at least 267 million dollars at today's values for gold.

Treason But instead of freeing the Inca, they tried him for treason, and Atahuallpa was sentenced to death for treason against his own empire. He, the thirteenth Inca, was sentenced to death. The Spanish marched down the hills to Cuzco to take over the lands.

Final Battle The 40,000 member army of the Inca was destroyed by a 180 member Spanish conquistador army, which was commanded by Francisco Pizarro. The warriors of the Inca were no match for the Spanish guns. By 1535, the Inca society was completely overthrown.

The end of an empire All that we have left of the Inca civilization is the incredible architecture, fine gold and silver art, knowledge of an ancient prosperous people, and Machu Piccu. 17