The IncaThe Inca

Geography: Andes Geography: Andes MountainsMountains

• The Cuzco Valley The Cuzco Valley located in the Andes located in the Andes Mountains (22,000 feet)Mountains (22,000 feet)

• The Andes Mountains The Andes Mountains were form by volcanoeswere form by volcanoes

• City of Cuzco-The City of Cuzco-The Capital, Built in the Capital, Built in the shape of a puma wild shape of a puma wild cat. Located in modern cat. Located in modern Peru. Peru.

Machu Picchu

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

•A royal retreat for the Inca rulers, built amid sacred mountain peaks.

•It is an engineering accomplishment – massive stone walls, steep staircases and level fields.

Inca ArchitectureInca Architecture

• The Inca were The Inca were skilled masonry skilled masonry stone workersstone workers

• They precisely cut They precisely cut blocks with out iron blocks with out iron tools to fit together tools to fit together perfectly, perfectly,

Achievement: Inca RoadsAchievement: Inca Roads• They had roads that connected the They had roads that connected the

entire vast empire. entire vast empire.

• Messengers could relay messages Messengers could relay messages within days across the empirewithin days across the empire

• Roads-They had roads that connected the entire vast empire.

• Roads stretched from sea level to 12,000 feet in elevation.

• Official runners would carry and relay messages within days across the empire.

• Inca’s could send a message 250 miles in one day.

Suspension BridgesSuspension Bridges

•Suspension bridges connected mountains - hanging from ropes and cables.

 

LanguageLanguage• Although people spoke

many different languages, to unify the empire the Incas established an official language – Quechua.

• All business had to be done in this language.

• No written language – Official storytellers passed Inca history orally.

TerracesTerraces

• The Inca built The Inca built terracesterraces into the into the mountains to grow mountains to grow crops.crops.

• The Inca grew The Inca grew potatoes and potatoes and maizemaize

Working the LandWorking the Land

• Vertical EconomyVertical Economy– – raising animals at raising animals at the top of the the top of the mountains and mountains and growing food at the growing food at the bottom of the bottom of the mountain. mountain.

TopRaise the

llamas

BottomGrow all of the crops such as:

beans, squash, and beans

The First Inca’s: ReligionThe First Inca’s: Religion

• Polytheism: The Polytheism: The Inca worshipped Inca worshipped the sun, moon, the sun, moon, animalsanimals

• The Inca made The Inca made beautiful pottery, beautiful pottery, gold, and silver gold, and silver objects objects

The People of the Inca: The People of the Inca: SocietySociety

Hierarchy of Power:Hierarchy of Power:

• KingKing was the military was the military and religious leaderand religious leader

• NoblesNobles were people were people related to the Kingrelated to the King

• CommonersCommoners were not were not Inca blood. People Inca blood. People who had been who had been conquered and had conquered and had little freedom little freedom

KingKing

NoblesNobles

Commoners Commoners

Society: Inca KingsSociety: Inca Kings• IncaInca’’s believed that the their kings never died. s believed that the their kings never died.

The bodies of Inca Kings were preserved as The bodies of Inca Kings were preserved as mummies.mummies.

• Mummies were dressed in fine cloth and Mummies were dressed in fine cloth and decorated with jewelry. decorated with jewelry.

• Mummies were given food and drinks and Mummies were given food and drinks and placed close together so they could visit each placed close together so they could visit each other other

• Many Inca mummies are still preserved todayMany Inca mummies are still preserved today

Pictures of MummiesPictures of Mummies

EconomyEconomy• Instead of paying taxes Incans had Instead of paying taxes Incans had

to work for the government (called to work for the government (called mitamita).).

•There were no merchants. Goods There were no merchants. Goods that were produced from the that were produced from the mitamita would be distributed to the people.would be distributed to the people.

•Mita jobs were farming, making Mita jobs were farming, making cloth and building roads and bridgescloth and building roads and bridges

Decline: Fransisco Pizarro Decline: Fransisco Pizarro ConquersConquers

• Atahualpa (the king Atahualpa (the king of the Inca empire) of the Inca empire) heard of the arrival heard of the arrival of the Spaniards and of the Spaniards and agreed to meet with agreed to meet with them.them.

• After Atahualpa After Atahualpa denied to convert to denied to convert to Christianity Pizarro Christianity Pizarro captured him and captured him and killed thousand of killed thousand of Incan soldiers.Incan soldiers.

The Spaniards AttackThe Spaniards Attack

• To win his freedom back Atahualpa To win his freedom back Atahualpa gave Pizarro a room filled with gold gave Pizarro a room filled with gold and silver (approximately 24 tons)and silver (approximately 24 tons)

• The Spaniards killed him anyway.The Spaniards killed him anyway.

• Like the Aztecs they were weakened Like the Aztecs they were weakened by disease and the Spaniards had by disease and the Spaniards had superior weapons.superior weapons.

• By 1537 the Spaniards had controlled By 1537 the Spaniards had controlled the entire region.the entire region.