9 th Honors  Turn in: Nothing…My apologies!  Take out :  Planner  Pen/Pencil  Notes  Today’s Learning Objectives:  I can evaluate the key aspects of civilization in the Inca empire. Today’s Agenda:  The empire of the Inca  The Mita system  (A day in the life of Inca kids) HW:  Critical read of Incas

The Incan Empire What do we know?

The Incan Empire Theocratic Empire: The ruler could only come from a family believed to be descended from the sun god. Ruled over the largest empire in the Americas: 16 million people.

Incan People The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society.

The Incan Empire Master builders and engineers. Llamas don’t pull plows. – Built by hand.

Architecture The dominant form in Inca architecture is a simple, but elegantly proportioned trapezoid, which serves the dual ends of functionality and decoration. – Trapezoidal doorways, windows, and wall niches are found in Inca constructions of all types, from the most finely wrought temples to crudely built walls in unimportant buildings. – Placement of these trapezoidal openings was primarily functional, but occasionally, esthetic arrangements might dominate the placement of the trapezoids, if there was no conflict with functionality.

Stone Work

Incan road system 14,000 miles of roads.

Inca Trail The empire was connected with an elaborate system of "roads" which are really trails as the Incas had no wheeled vehicles. – They consisted of well paved and maintained paths that can accommodate 2 people abreast.

Trail Stations There are stations along the trails, between 2 and 5 miles apart, that served as living quarters for the "runners." – This was a special class of young men who conducted the business on the trails. Typically there were 2 men at each station. – A runner with a message (oral) or an item (food, fertilizer or such) would call out upon approach to one of these stations. One of the occupants would run out to meet the incoming runner, receive the message or item, and then continue to the next station. The original messenger would rest and then return to their own station. In this way, it was said that the Inca (who resided in Cuzco) ate fresh fish from the ocean and could send and retrieve information throughout the 2,000 mile empire in a matter of a few days.

Social Structure The Incas had a very clear social structure. – The ruler, the Sapa (Supreme) Inca, and his wives, the Coyas, had supreme control over the empire. – The High Priest and the Army Commander in Chief were next.

Social Structure Military – Then came the Four Apus, the regional army commanders. Next came temple priests, architects, administrators and army generals. Merchants and Middle Class – Next were artisans, musicians, army captains and the quipucamayoc, the Incan "accountants." At the bottom were farmers, herding families and conscripts.

Incan Labor system The Mita System: All able bodied people had to work for the state for a certain number of days every year. In exchange, the state supported old and sick people. The state would send potatoes to areas that had poor harvests.

The Mita System What do you notice about the structure of Inca society? What are the benefits of this system? Are there drawbacks to this system? You are about the age of entering the Mita…how would you feel about this system here and now in your life?

9 th Honors  Turn in: Nothing…My apologies!  Take out :  Planner  Pen/Pencil  Notes  Today’s Learning Objectives:  I can evaluate the key aspects of civilization in the Inca empire. Today’s Agenda:  The empire of the Inca  The Mita system  (A day in the life of Inca kids) HW:  Critical read of Incas