The Incas-Empire in the Clouds

The Incas-Empire in the clouds

Vocabulary:

17.Pachacuti 18.chasqui 19.Francisco Pizarro 20.quipu.

• The Aztecs built their empire in North America, the Incas in South America.
• The Incas lived in the rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains.
• Because of the terrain Llamas became important animals, used to transport cargo.
• Before 1200 they settled in a fertile mountain valley, more than 11,000 feet above sea level.
• Capital city was Cuzco; in Quechua language it means “navel” or “center.”
• In 1438, 9th Inca ruler Pachacuti conquered all of Peru and expanded Empire to surrounding areas.
• By 1500 Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina were under Inca rule; some 12 million people.
• Because of the mountainous terrain cities never grew too large. 25,000 in Cuzco.
• Incas were talented organizers and administrators.
• Geography (high and steep mountains) made farming difficult.
• They grew corn and potatoes (over 3000 varieties) which are native to the area.
• They built a network roads and it was as elaborate as the Romans.
• Because of the distances they had runners called chasquis along these mountain highways.
• Keeping the roads in good condition was a challenge, the Incas required subjects to perform a number of days of labor each year (community service).
• Their economy was not based on money but rather barter or exchange.
• Nothing happened without permission of the Inca ruler in Cuzco, through chiefs the government regulated even the smallest villages.
• Polytheistic society and their most important god was Inti, god of the sun.
• Made animal sacrifices but human sacrifices were rare (only in a drought perhaps).
• Did not make slaves of prisoners of war. Army was 200,000 strong.
• Nobles ran the government but most people were commoners (mainly farmers).
• Inca Empire was weakened by a bitter civil war. Atahualpa defeats his brother and becomes leader.
• In 1532 Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro arrives at an Incan port in South America.
• Pizarro requests a meeting with Atahualpa, later is taken prisoner by Spanish and killed.
• Again, many died of diseases brought by the Europeans.
• Inca legacy: made advances in engineering, art, and medicine (blood transfusion and brain surgery).
• Quipu: mathematical counting tool (pg. 414).
• No system of writing but Quechua language is still wide spoken.
• The Incas built roads, tunnels, bridges, palaces, and temples. They were also skilled artisans (jewelry, figurines, and clothes from Alpaca wool).