1. LATER AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
Lesson 2: The Inca

2. MAIN IDEAS
The Inca adapted their way of life to the mountainous terrain found throughout their empire.
The Inca developed a complex society that placed the government in control of most aspects of life.
The Inca developed a unique system of record keeping and built a wide-ranging system of roads.

3. Inca Empire

4. Geography of a Mountain Empire A Land of Diverse Terrain
EQ: How did the Inca adapt their way of life to the mountainous terrain of their homeland?
A Land of Diverse Terrain
Central Andes region in South America is geographically extreme, with tropical rain forests, fertile valleys, & the worldʼs highest mountains
Inca founded Cuzco, mountain city 11,000 feet above sea level, in 1100s and created a small kingdom

5. Cuzco

6. Geography of a Mountain Empire Pachacuti Founds an Empire
EQ: How did the Inca adapt their way of life to the mountainous terrain of their homeland?
Pachacuti Founds an Empire
By 1400s, Inca had expanded rule over valley and nearby areas
Pachacuti—ninth Incan ruler—came to power in 1438 and conquered Peru, surrounding lands
By 1500, Incan empire covered 2,500 miles of western coast with as many as 12 million people

8. Geography of a Mountain Empire
EQ: How did the Inca adapt their way of life to the mountainous terrain of their homeland?
Governing the Empire
Andes Mountains not suited for large cities or farmland
Machu Picchu mountain settlement held no more than 1,000 people
Rough terrain and varied peoples made governing difficult
Inca were expert organizers, administrators; divided subjects into family groups; everyone spoke Quechua language; subjects worshipped Incan gods, but allowed to keep traditional ways

10. Geography of a Mountain Empire Daily Life in the Empire
EQ: How did the Inca adapt their way of life to the mountainous terrain of their homeland?
Daily Life in the Empire
Terrain made farming difficult. They cut terraces in mountain sides; developed irrigation systems for terraced farmland, where farmers grew corn, potatoes; bred llamas, alpacas for wool, food
Inca improved roads for communication; subjects had to do repairs
Chasquis (runners) carried messages on foot through mountains
Moneyless economy; bartered locally
Emperor controlled regional trade

11. Southern Peruvian Andes August 2 to August 15, 2014 Closed!
Chasqui Challenge
100 Mile Multi-Stage Adventure Run
Inca Trail Marathon to Machu Picchu
and Circuit Around Mt. Ausangate
Cusco, Perú
Southern Peruvian Andes
14 Day Adventure Run
(4 nights camping)
August 2 to August 15, 2014 Closed!
August 1 to August 14, 2015

12. Incan Society and Beliefs EQ: How did Incan society develop?
Incan Class Structure
Nobles ran government, controlled army, lived in luxury
Commoners—mostly farmers, fishermen; worked for nobles, priests
Incan government held tight control of daily life. Chiefs regulated even smallest villages and decided who farmed, traded, married, served in army

14. Incan Society and Beliefs EQ: How did Incan society develop?
Religious Beliefs and Practices
Incans accepted emperorʼs control; believed he was divine
Inti—god of sun—was most important to agricultural Inca
Many temples built; priests performed prayers, rituals, animal sacrifice
Priests often performed rites for emperors before battle
Warfare and the Mighty Incan Army
Incan army totaled nearly 200,000; soldiers were mostly commoners but were well-trained; equipped with spears, arrows, lances, clubs
Opponents were intimidated, avoided battle by submitting to Inca

16. Incan Society and Beliefs EQ: How did Incan society develop?
The Inca Fall to the Spanish
Civil war between Incan ruler Atahualpa and brother weakened empire. Thousands of Inca killed in five-year war; Atahualpa victorious
In 1532, Francisco Pizarro—Spanish explorer—landed at Incan port
Atahualpa taken prisoner during meeting with Pizarro, later executed
Invading Spaniards rode horses, had armor, steel swords, guns
Spaniards conquered Cuzco city, Incan lands by 1535
Incan ruler defeated; Incan empire ceased to exist in Millions of Inca died from European-borne diseases

17. Atahualpa, the Victor
Quito, Ecuador
Huascar, Heir/Loser
Cusco, Peru

18. The Cultural Legacy of the Inca
EQ: What advances did the Inca make in science, technology, and the arts?
A Civilization Without Writing
Inca had no writing system; ran a large empire, engaged in trade
Quipu—a cord with knotted strings—was used to track trade goods, distribution of troops, and to preserve history
Incan Medical Advances
Spanish reported Incan medical practices as advanced as Europeʼs. They created quinine to cure fevers, performed surgeries (even brain surgery), blood transfusions

19. CHAKANA (Inca Cross) —Ayni— Give & Take —Mitia— Give Aid —Minka—
Upper World
(Gods)
—Hanan Pacha—
CONDOR
—Ayni—
Give & Take
Middle World
(Humans)
—Kay Pacha—
PUMA
—Mitia—
Give Aid
—Minka—
Give Back
Lower World
(Life/Death)
—Uqhu Pacha—
SNAKE

20. The Cultural Legacy of the Inca Road Builders and Artisans
EQ: What advances did the Inca make in science, technology, and the arts?
Road Builders and Artisans
Inca built highway network that crisscrossed 14,000 miles of empire, including tunnels and bridges. These roads allowed rulers to send troops, messages quickly across empire
Forts, temples, palaces of huge stone blocks assembled without mortar
Artisans made jewelry, figurines of precious metals (gold)
Weavers used alpaca wool to weave intricately designed cloth

21. ALPACA
WOOL
MORTARLESS
CONSTRUCTION
ROADS
GOLD

22. Summary & So What Lesson Summary Why It Matters Now . . .
The Inca developed ways to live in and to rule a vast region of mountainous terrain.
Most Inca lived highly regulated lives under the supreme rule of an emperor.
The Inca created a record-keeping system, built a vast road network, and made medical advances.
Why It Matters Now . . .
Incan influence is still present in Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.