1. 16.4 – Inca Create a Mountain Empire

2. Beginnings Inca build on foundations of cultures 1000s of years old
Start on a high plateau in the Andes, move to Valley of Cuzco
Launch beliefs & traditions that build an empire
Ex: Rules descended from the Sun God, Inti
Only men from 11 noble lineages could be leaders
Beginnings

3. Empire 1438: Pachacuti comes to power
Inca conquer all of Peru; lands 2,500 miles along the west coast by 1500
“Land of the Four Quarters” – 80 provinces & 16m people
Expand lands through diplomacy & conquest
Before attacks, Incan rules would offer terms of surrender = more peaceful way of expansion

4. Unity
Control of a large empire = Split areas ruled from central bureaucracy
Single language, Quechua, roads & trade network link vast empire
Build cities & government buildings in conquered areas to show power
All roads led to Cuzco, the capital
Master engineers w/o the wheel

5. Government
Controlled production & distribution of goods = very little private trade
Social System: Ayllu – Extended family build canals, store food, help out people in harsh times
Ayllu structure governed on the decimal system into groups of 10 to 10k
Each group led by a chief
Local leaders left to rule own areas
People paid tribute to Incan rule through labor, or mita

6. Incan Social Structure

7. Works & Records Incan system was close to socialism
Focused on public works programs
14k mile road & bridge network
Use chasquis, runners, as an empire postal service
Easy movement of troops & goods
No written language = oral tradition
Use quipu, knotted strings, for accounting
Calendars used for religious purposes
Works & Records

8. Religion Helped reinforce the power of the state
Believed in the balance of nature
Worshipped the moon, stars, thunder, etc.
Creator God = Viracocha
Kings descended from sun god, Inti
Religious servants: Mamakuna (female) & Yamacuna (male)
Lifetime state workers
Sacrificed Llamas for goods from the gods

9. Great Cities Cuzco = capital, rich in gold (sweat of the sun)
Temple of the Sun
Walls covered in gold
Machu Picchu
Discovered in 1912: Isolated
Central plaza surrounded by temples & public buildings
Mysterious: religious center or Pachacuti’s estate?

10. Machu Picchu

11. Discord Early 1500s: Height of empire’s power
Bad Omen: Emperor Huayan Capac opens gift box, moths fly out; dies weeks later
Empire splits b/w Atahualpa & Huascar = civil war
Atahualpa wins, but empire weakened
Conquered by Spanish

12. Death of Atahualpa