The Inca

Geography: Andes Mountains The Inca lived in Cuzco Valley located in the Andes Mountains (22,000 feet), South America. The Andes Mountains were formed by volcanoes City of Cuzco-The Capital, built in the shape of a puma wild cat. Located in modern Peru.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu A royal retreat for the Inca rulers, built amid sacred mountain peaks. It is an engineering accomplishment – massive stone walls, steep staircases and level fields.

Achievement: Inca Roads Roads-They had roads that connected the entire vast empire. Roads stretched from sea level to 12,000 feet in elevation. Official runners would carry and relay messages within days across the empire. Incas could send a message 250 miles in one day.

Inca Architecture  Architecture-The Inca were skilled at masonry (working with stone). They precisely cut blocks, without iron tools, to fit together perfectly.

Suspension Bridges Suspension bridges connected mountains - hanging from ropes and cables.  

Language Although people spoke many different languages, to unify the empire, the Incas established an official language – Quechua (Ke-chuch-wuh). All business had to be done in this language. No written language – Official storytellers passed Inca history orally.

Terraces The Inca built terraces into the mountains to grow crops. The Inca grew potatoes, beans and maize.

Working the Land Vertical Economy– raising animals at the top of the mountains and growing food at the bottom of the mountain.

The First Incas: Religion Polytheism: The Inca worshipped the sun, moon, animals. The Inca made beautiful pottery, gold, and silver objects celebrating the Gods.

The People of the Inca: Society Hierarchy of Power: King was the military and religious leader Nobles were people related to the King Commoners were not Inca blood. People who had been conquered and had little freedom

Society: Inca Kings Incas believed that the their kings never died. The bodies of Inca Kings were preserved as mummies. Mummies were dressed in fine cloth and decorated with jewelry. Mummies were given food and drinks and placed close together so they could visit each other . Many Inca mummies are still preserved today.

Pictures of Mummies

Economy Instead of paying taxes, the Inca had to work for the government (called mita). There were no merchants. Goods that were produced from the mita would be distributed to the people. Mita jobs were farming, making cloth and building roads and bridges

Decline: Fransisco Pizarro Conquers Atahualpa (the king of the Inca empire) heard of the arrival of the Spaniards and agreed to meet with them. After Atahualpa denied to convert to Christianity, Pizarro captured him and killed thousand of Incan soldiers.

The Spaniards Attack To win his freedom back, Atahualpa gave Pizarro a room filled with gold and silver (approximately 24 tons) The Spaniards killed him anyway. Like the Aztecs, they were weakened by disease and the Spaniards had superior weapons. By 1537, the Spaniards had controlled the entire region