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).