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Inca: Mountain Empire Builders of Ancient Peru

Discover the rise and fall of the Inca Empire, starting from their origins in the Andes to expanding across Peru. Explore their unique social structure, advanced engineering, and spiritual beliefs. Uncover the mysteries of Machu Picchu and the tragic fate of Emperor Atahualpa.

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Inca: Mountain Empire Builders of Ancient Peru

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  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

  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

  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

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