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MESOAMERICA: The Incas

MESOAMERICA: The Incas. Geography. Located in the Andes Mountains on western coast of South America Empire stretched from modern-day Ecuador in north to Chile in south; largest empire in the Americas. Cities. Macchu Picchu 8,000 feet above sea-level, between 2 mountain peaks

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MESOAMERICA: The Incas

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  1. MESOAMERICA: The Incas

  2. Geography Located in the Andes Mountains on western coast of South America Empire stretched from modern-day Ecuador in north to Chile in south; largest empire in the Americas

  3. Cities • Macchu Picchu • 8,000 feet above sea-level, between 2 mountain peaks • Purpose is unknown • Cuzco (capital of empire, in southern Peru)

  4. Government & Society Ruled by an emperor Divided territory into units w/ central bureaucracy Single language (Quechua) Built cities in conquered areas, founded Incan schools Social system based on form of community cooperation = the “ayllu”

  5. Economy Based on high-altitude agriculture Incan state controlled most economic activity Demanded labor tribute from subjects = “mita” (all able-bodied citizens had to work for state a certain number of days per year) Similar to socialism or modern welfare system

  6. Religion • Polytheistic • Worshipped fewer gods than Aztecs • Focused on key nature spirits (sun, moon, stars, thunder) • Inti = sun god = Incan ruler considered a descendant of Inti • Incans embalmed their dead (believed in after-life, worshipped spirits of ancestors, mummies of Incan rulers treated as if still alive)

  7. Timeline Originally lived in high plateau of Andes, finally settled in Valley of Cuzco 1200s C.E. = established small kingdom 1438 C.E. = Pachacuti became emperor, Inca conquered all of Peru 1500 C.E. = Inca ruled empire 2,500 miles long (about 16 million people) Accomplished conquest through diplomacy and military force

  8. Decline of empire After death of ruler Huayna Capac, empire was split between 2 sons (dual emperors) Worked for a while, then civil war began Spanish arrived at end of civil war, conquered the Incan empire

  9. Known for… • Road system • 14,000 miles of roads and bridges • Calendar • 2 types (night and day = could track the gods in charge of each day and time) • Record-keeping system • “Quipu” • Never developed a writing system

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