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The Incas
Like other regions around the planet, Central and South America saw their own civilizations emerge. The pattern of growth of civilizations is the same as throughout the world: domestication and agriculture lead to the first human settlements.
However, as they had no contact with the civilizations in Africa, Asia and Europe, the American civilizations had their own very distinct identity and culture.
Scroll down to find out more about the Incas!
Incas
History
In the mountains of present day Peru, around 1100 AD, the Incas rose and established their capital Cusco. In 1438 however, the Inca expanded under the ruler Pachakuti whose son, Tupac Inca, continued the expansion mainly north and south conquering many different people, including the powerful Chimu.
By 1493, the Incas ruled a 2500 mile (4000km) territory along the Andes Mountains until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1532.
At its height the Inca Empire (green) was far larger than the Aztec (blue) or Mayan (red) territories.
An Efficient Empire
Like the Aztecs, the Inca Empire had a strict hierarchy with the ruler and nobles at the top. Much like our modern societies, the Inca Empire was divided up into districts with administrators and governors at the head of them.
Local communities had responsibilities for carrying out projects that would benefit the Empire. The road system which made for easier travel and communication across the Empire, had to be built and maintained by the locals.
Power, though, was in the hands of Cusco. Farmers for example had to give a third of the production to Cusco for the state religion and the gods, another third for the Inca ruler, and the rest the farmer could keep.
Did you know?
Inca Roads
Crossing the Andes Mountains and reaching heights of over 16,500 feet (5000m), traveling along the Inca roads must have been tiring, and also could take a long time.
If you wanted to deliver a message quickly, you called upon special messengers, called chasquis. These messengers traveled between post houses along the Royal Road, passing the message on to another chasqui every 12-18 miles (20-30 km).
Quiz
This is a quipu. What do you think it was used for?
- A measuring device
- A necklace
- A recording device
Jigsaw Puzzle
In Cusco and other sites like Sacsaywamán, the building skills of the Inca are still visible today. Every piece of rock was carefully crafted and locked in together like a puzzle. They did not even use mortar!
In Cusco, many of the Inca buildings would still be standing today if it were not for the Spanish and despite the earthquakes in the region. These used the Inca stones to build their own buildings on top of the Inca sites.
Above you can see how well the stones fit together, just like a jigsaw puzzle.
Machu Picchu
Perched at the top of a mountain, seeing Machu Picchu today is a beautiful and magical experience. The site, a fortress and sacred city to the Incas, was never discovered by the Spanish and has all the features of an Incan city, including houses, temples and terraces.
The city lay sleeping at the top of the mountains, known to locals but unknown to the rest of the world, until 1911.
El Dorado
When the Spanish arrived in the new world, they were impressed by the well-crafted artifacts of gold and silver. Fed by the seeming abundance of these precious metals, they set about trying to find and take as many riches as possible.
Very quickly the legend of el Dorado was born. Spurred on by the initiation rite for the rulers of the Muisca people, European explorers set about finding a golden city, kingdom and empire!
Did you know?
Coca Leaves
The Incas introduced potatoes to the world but also the coca plant.
Coca leaves were used for millennia by the Andean people. Chewing them allowed for better circulation of the blood and helped to suppress hunger, thirst, pain, and tiredness. It is also a good stimulant. In the high altitudes of the Andes where there is less oxygen, chewing coca leaves is very beneficial.
The famous Coca-Cola Company made their famous drink from coca leaves extracts. The leaves can also be used to make a highly addictive and destructive drug: cocaine.
Quiz
The Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations had never seen horses before the Spanish arrived.
- False
- True
Spanish Conquest III
Just like for the Mayans and Aztecs, it was the Spanish conquistadors who ended the Inca Civilization. Atahualpa, pictured above, was the last of the Inca emperors.
Despite the destruction of the conquerors and the loss of many riches, many sites and artifacts are still here for us to marvel at, while the Quechua language, the language of the Incas, is still widely spoken in parts of Peru and Bolivia.
How did these civilizations disappear so rapidly once the Spanish arrived? To find out, read the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs and Incas.
The road system: The Inca road system ran for some 14,000 miles (22,500 km).
Terraces: A terrace is an ingenious way to grow crops on the mountain slopes. It involves building walls and filling them with earth to make a flat surface.
Sacsaywamán: Sacsaywamán was an Inca fortress just outside Cusco. The walls were huge, reaching up to 52 feet (16 metres) in parts. The fortress did not however stop the Spanish from conquering the Inca capital.
The Initiation Rite For The Rulers Of The Muisca People: The Muisca people were a group of people native to present day Colombia. The initiation rite of the King involved him covering himself with gold dust before diving into a lake. Although the initiation rite is believed to have actually existed, much of what came of it - especially the golden cities - was pure invention.
Cocaine: Coca leaves are completely safe and non-addictive, but the drug made from them isn't. Turning coca leaves into the white powder of cocaine is difficult though and was unknown to the Andean people. Cocaine was first used in medicine and in tonic drinks (even Coca Cola had cocaine in it for a while!) before the community realized it was bad for humans.
Atahualpa: Atahualpa (ca.1500-1533) was the last Inca Emperor before the Spanish conquest. He became leader after defeating his half-brother Huáscar after the death of their father, Inca Huayna Capac. Although several people claimed the title of Emperor after his death to unite against the Spanish, the empire began to disintegrate after Atahualpa's death and so he is considered as the last Emperor.
Forum
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