The Inca

Geography of The Inca Empire Inca empire was located on western side of South America Andes Mountains home of Inca empire-used gorges as natural defense against invaders Amazon Jungle was source of wood, medicinal herbs and fruits. Did not settle region Coastal Desert of 2,000 miles located on coast of Pacific Ocean is a perfect natural defense

Cuzco: The City Of Gold Appeared around 1200 and began to build city of Cuzco Cuzco served as the capital city of the empire and center of their economy Protected by massive walls and site of the emperor’s palaces City population was comprised of nobility, artisans and government officials Aqueducts, schools, paved streets, gardens, government buildings and festival grounds

Cuzco: The City Of Gold The Sapa Inca, the only Inca (emperor) maintained power by assigning family to offices Responsible for taking care of the indigent, infrastructure and maintaining order Government obligated to help populace during natural disasters 1430 Inca empire embarks on expansion and rules over 12 million people

Pachacuti 1430 saw Cuzco invaded by a neighboring tribe and on the verge of capitulation Pachacuti, the Sapa Inca’s son rallies the Inca army and destroys the aggressors Pachacuti seizes the throne and embarks on a policy of conquest Inca army was technological advanced, organized and effectively led

Pachacuti Embraced those who joined and forced relocation of dissident tribes Embarked on road building to link growing empire Introduced a messenger system Tupac Inca follows fathers footsteps and commands army during fathers expansion

Policy of Expansion and Growth Policy of Expansion comprised of 3 components  Road system built from Cuzco to conquered people  Inca officials sent to assist rule of people  Inca governor ruled people Conquered people had to become Inca adopt their language, culture and religion

Policy of Expansion and Growth Architecture was designed to fit in with environment and withstand earthquakes Introduced terrace farming Introduced dehydrated food by freezing then allowed it to dry Harvested corn, potatoes, quinua seeds for cereal and kept honeybees

Policy of Expansion and Growth Built over 14,000 miles of paved roads Roads served only the army, messengers and food trains Road signs, supply houses and inns Introduced suspension, pontoon and pulley bridges Peasants paid a “labor tax” to build roads

The Sun People Believed in gods of nature- worshipped sun, moon, stars and planets Believed in an afterlife and mummified dead Priests had enormous amount of influence Held religious festivals that involved human sacrifices monthly

The Social Classes Rich lived a life of luxury and could own various types of property Nobility were guaranteed government positions Wore same style of clothing as poor but quality was always better Hairstyles determined your rank in society Poor only owned a home and were either farmers or laborers for the Sapa Inca Could not travel on roads, get an education, paid a “Labor Tax”, and could not be idle Were provided with food, free religious festivals and guaranteed a job

The Social Classes Poor had to marry by age 20 Babies and young were left alone when parents went to work Children were not held or coddled because it was believed to tire parents Had a high mortality rate

Crime and Punishment Inca Style Possibly lowest crime rate during time period “Swift and Harsh” If you disrespected the Sapa Inca, committed murder, adultery, cursed the Inca gods you were thrown off a cliff Thieves, cheats and con-artists had either their hands or feet cut off Lesser crimes like rudeness, fighting, and laziness resulted in stoning, eye gouging, being tied outside to freeze Survivors of punishment became “employed criminals” who were forced to tell stories of there crimes and outcomes of their punishment till they died

Machu Picchu Machu Picchu was home to nobles and possible a sanctuary discovered in 1911 Built at 8,000 feet it possess some of the most well preserved examples of terraces, baths, temples and residences for priest and nobles Most of dead found were females and there is no written record as to the purpose of Picchu

Pizzaro and The Spanish Conquest 1525 saw the Inca empire in civil war between brothers for title of Sapa Inca War between brothers armies lasted 5 years until Athualpa wins In 1531 Spaniards arrive seeking fabled cities of gold Francisco Pizarro

Pizarro and The Spanish Conquest Athualpa underestimates Pizarro’s ambition and tactfulness and fails to eliminate him 1531 Pizarro enters the Inca kingdom and realizes he too has underestimated the Inca Pizarro seizes Athualpa during a ceremonial precession A ransom is paid in gold in silver for the Sapa but he is killed as the Spanish fled

Pizarro and The Spanish Conquest the Inca will resist the Spaniards but all is lost Reasons Spaniards conqueror the Inca  Steel weapons  Diseases  Indian allies  Greed as a motivator