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16.4 – Inca Create a Mountain Empire. 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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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