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Ancient Incas. World History I. Focus Activity. National Geographic Article La Doncella – “The Maiden” Copacocha Short, fictional story. Modern-day countries: Colombia Ecuador Peru Bolivia Chile Argentina In the Andes Mountains. Where?. Who?.
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Ancient Incas World History I
Focus Activity • National Geographic Article • La Doncella – “The Maiden” • Copacocha • Short, fictional story
Modern-day countries: • Colombia • Ecuador • Peru • Bolivia • Chile • Argentina • In the Andes Mountains Where?
Who? • Inca were a distinct people of the Cuzco Valley in South America with a unique culture and language called quechua • “Inca” actually the term for the leader • Divine, descendent of the Sun-god
What? • Conquered surrounding tribes one by one (ca. 13th century CE) under legendary Manco Capac • Mighty, fierce military • Mixture of assimilation and independence • More of a confederation than an empire • Largest Native American civilization • Called Tahuantinsuyu, quechua for the "Four Quarters of the World" • Decline 16th c. – Spanish conquistadores
Inca Society • Strict, hierarchical social structure focused on the group above the individual • At the top was the “Inca” and the royal family • Each tribe had tribal heads • At the very bottom were the common people who were all grouped in squads of ten people each with a single "boss" • Civil service exam • Quechua = language of the empire
Incan Society • Incas cultivated • Corn • Potatoes • Tomatoes • Cotton • Peanuts • Coca • Raised llama and alpaca for food and for labor
Inca Religion • Central god of the Incan religion was the sun-god, Inti (many other gods as well) • Believed in an afterlife • Heaven was depicted by the condor; the underworld by the anaconda • Highest point of the city reserved for religious activities • Sacrificed children, called capachoa
Inca Society • They had no writing system, but they kept records on various colored knotted cords called quipu • Violent punishment system • Being thrown off a cliff, hands cut off, eyes cut out • No prisons • Conquered people had to pay a labor tax (mita) to the state
Inca Achievements • Roads without wheels? • Astonishing network of roads – some paved • Chasquis delivered messages throughout empire • Built massive forts with stone slabs so perfectly cut that they didn't require mortar • Built irrigation systems and terrace farms for agriculture in the Andes Mountains
Inca Achievements • Built aqueducts to their cities • Much like who? • Very advanced in medicine and surgery
Decline • Franciso Pizzarro kidnapped the emperor Atahualpa • Executed him in 1533 • Over the next thirty years the Spanish struggled against various insurrections • Gained control in the 1560's
Decline • The Incas had an army which consisted of 40,000 people and the Spanish army in the Americas had only 180 people – How did they conquer? • 1) Much of the Incan army died as a result of smallpox, which was carried to them via the Spanish • 2) The Spanish were able to convince other tribes, already under Incan rule, to side with them and over throw the Incan Empire • 3) The weapons used by Incan warriors, though effective in tribal warfare, were no match for the Spanish arms