Incas

The World of the Incas The Inca civilization lived in the Andes Mountains Many peaks rise above 20,000 feet It is a difficult environment for human settlement Altitude Steep mountains

The World of the Incas – Andean Agriculture Andean people fished and hunted Farmers grew crops like chili peppers, squash, beans, cotton, peanuts, and corn Raised livestock – llamas & alpacas Farmed along rivers Farmed on hillsides using terraces Cut a flat strip of level land into the hill/mountains Created irrigation canals to carry water to terraces

The Incas – Inca Origins Incas had no writing system – no written history What we know is from oral tradition passed on when Europeans wrote accounts Believed that Incas settled in Cuzco (Peru) in A.D. 1200

The Incas – Inca Origins According to legend, Incas descended from Inti, the sun god. Inti told them to settle in a land where golden staff would sink easily into the ground – it was Cuzco The empire was built over the next 300 years

The Incas – Building an Empire Incas were led by a series of warrior-kings called Sapa Incas Pachacuti was the greatest of the Sapa Incas – took power in 1438 Used military force and diplomacy to expand empire Preferred diplomacy to fighting Offered peace and protection to those who would join Could keep local rulers and customs

The Incas – Incas at Their Height Huayna Capac was the last of the great Sapa Incas Empire stretched 2500 miles Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chili, & Argentina Huayna Capac died in 1525 and didn’t arrange for successor Sons fought – their brutal civil war ended as Spanish conquered the Inca empire

Section 1 Quiz How did the Incas adapt to their environment? How did the Inca Empire expand? Why did some people agree to accept Inca rule? Who was the greatest of the Sapa Incas?

The Incas - Inca Life (Nobles) Inca society broken into two groups – nobles and commoners Three levels of nobles By birth Appointed – usually for service Curacas – local non-Inca chiefs

The Incas - Inca Life (Commoners) Commoners – divided by age and sex Boys 9-16 tended flocks Men 25-50 raised crops & served in army Men over 50 – light tasks like weave rope Girls 9-12 gather plants for medicine and dyes Girls 16 married or state service Weave for nobles Work in temples

The Incas - Inca Life (Community Life) Commoners lived in communities called ayllu The ayllu – a group of families that lived in same location Shared land, food, animals, & resources Lived in single room houses of stone or mud brick One third of year devoted to festivals and ceremonies

The Incas – Inca Life (Land and Labor) All Inca land was communal property – owned and managed by government Land divided into three parts Government Priests and religion Ayllu Farmers cultivated for government and religion before could cultivate for ayllu Commoners also have to provide a mita (labor tax) Had to work for state for certain number of days during year Could be military or construction of bridges and roads

The Incas - Inca Life (Trade) Incas did not use money Most communities produced necessary goods Simple markets existed to exchange food for goods like wool More of a barter system With no money or property – difficult to accumulate wealth

The Incas - Inca Life (Religion) Incas were religious, but little is know because didn’t write Worshiped many gods Inti – Sun god and most important Believed descended from him and owed special worship Viracocha – creator god who was assisted by gods of moon, stars, and earth

The Incas – Inca Life (Religion) Inca priests performed rituals to bring a good harvest or ensure loyalty Eat corn and llama blood for loyalty Sapa Inca – honored as a living god (descended from Inti) Commoners had to lower head when he passed

Section 2 Quiz What were the three ranks of nobles? How were commoners divided in Inca society? What were commoners paid for their work? How was the land owned and divided in the Inca Empire? Why do you think the Inca rulers set up this system? How did farmers and commoners support the Inca government? How did Incas regard their leaders?

The Incas - Achievements Ruled with excellent administration (managing government) No written language or wheeled vehicles Empire centered in Cuzco Empire divided into quarters A governor in charge of each quarter Noble by birth All governors made up supreme council They reported directly to emperor

The Incas - Achievements Each village divided into groups of 10 families – The head of one family governed all 10 families in that group Local group leaders reported to a curaca or local chief Local chief in charge of 100 families

The Incas - Achievements Incas had a strong oral tradition Quechua was the language they would impose on conquered people Military messengers carried a quipus Made out of knotted strings Kept records Every year took a census Incas created a welfare state Incas lived under strict controls Homes and fields inspected Identifying clothing If honor government rules

The Incas - Achievements Incas were master builders Stone architecture – buildings still standing today Used large stone block that didn’t need mortar or cement Vast road system covering 15,000 miles Roads crossed mountains, deserts, and jungles Spanned rivers on bridges swung from cable Also had floating bridges Artists used gold and silver Incas also wove fine textiles – more proud of this