Incan EmpireIncan Empire

Inca Inca EmpireEmpire

Inca DevelopmentInca Development

The beginning of the Inca rule started with the conquest of the Chimu Culture in Peru.

The original Inca tribe was a minor Andean tribe whose expansion began with a successful campaign against its more powerful neighbours, the Chancas, in the 1440s.

Incan PeopleIncan People

The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society.

IncasIncas

Between 1200 and 1535 AD, the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile.

The Incas established an empire that, by the time of the Spanish invasion, stretched from southern Columbia to central Chile, a distance of some three thousand miles.

Social StructureSocial Structure

The Incas had a very clear social The Incas had a very clear social structure. structure. The ruler, the Sapa IncaThe ruler, the Sapa Inca, and his wives, , and his wives,

the Coyas, had supreme control over the Coyas, had supreme control over the empire. the empire.

The High PriestThe High Priest and the and the Army Army Commander in Chief Commander in Chief were next. were next.

Social StructureSocial Structure

MilitaryMilitary Then came the Four Apus, the regional army Then came the Four Apus, the regional army

commanders.commanders. Next came temple priests, architects, Next came temple priests, architects,

administrators and army generals. administrators and army generals. Merchants and Middle ClassMerchants and Middle Class

Next were artisans, musicians, army captains Next were artisans, musicians, army captains and the quipucamayoc, the Incan "accountants." and the quipucamayoc, the Incan "accountants."

At the bottom were sorcerers, farmers, At the bottom were sorcerers, farmers, herding families and conscripts.herding families and conscripts.

QuipuQuipu A A quipuquipu consists, minimally, of a main consists, minimally, of a main

cord from which pendant cords hang. cord from which pendant cords hang. Knots tied in the cords keep records or Knots tied in the cords keep records or counts of important thingscounts of important things..

Inka functionaries used cord records for Inka functionaries used cord records for censuses, inventories, tribute records, censuses, inventories, tribute records, and documents about transactions; and documents about transactions; Spanish courts also accepted them as Spanish courts also accepted them as documents of record in early colonial documents of record in early colonial times. times.

ArchitectureArchitecture The dominant stylistic form in Inca The dominant stylistic form in Inca

architecture is a simple, but elegantly architecture is a simple, but elegantly proportioned trapezoidproportioned trapezoid, which serves the dual , which serves the dual ends of functionality and severely restrained ends of functionality and severely restrained decoration. decoration. Trapezoidal doorways, windows, and wall niches are Trapezoidal doorways, windows, and wall niches are

found in Inca constructions of all types, from the found in Inca constructions of all types, from the most finely wrought temples to crudely built walls in most finely wrought temples to crudely built walls in unimportant buildings. unimportant buildings.

The doorways and windows are obviously functional, The doorways and windows are obviously functional, and the niches probably served a variety of and the niches probably served a variety of functions as yet unidentified by the archeologists. functions as yet unidentified by the archeologists.

Placement of these trapezoidal openings was Placement of these trapezoidal openings was primarily functional, but occasionally, esthetic primarily functional, but occasionally, esthetic arrangements might dominate the placement of the arrangements might dominate the placement of the trapezoids, if there was no conflict with trapezoids, if there was no conflict with functionality. functionality.

Stone WorkStone Work

Mountain Top FortsMountain Top Forts

AgricultureAgriculture Developed terrace farming Developed terrace farming

technique to grow crops in technique to grow crops in the mountainsthe mountains

Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and cacao were peanuts and cacao were among the many crops among the many crops grown by the Inca. grown by the Inca.

Llama were used for meat Llama were used for meat and transportation. and transportation.

There was more than There was more than enough resources available enough resources available for everyone. for everyone.

CuzcoCuzco The The ancient Inca capital ancient Inca capital is said to have is said to have

been founded around 1100 AD. been founded around 1100 AD. The Incas conceived their capital in the The Incas conceived their capital in the

shape of a Puma with the river serving shape of a Puma with the river serving as the spine, Sacsayhuaman the head, as the spine, Sacsayhuaman the head, and the main city center the body. and the main city center the body.

Almost every central street has remains Almost every central street has remains of Inca walls, arches and doorways. of Inca walls, arches and doorways. Many streets are lined with Inca Many streets are lined with Inca stonework, now serving as foundations stonework, now serving as foundations for more modern buildings. for more modern buildings.

CuzcoCuzco

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

The site of Machu Picchu was The site of Machu Picchu was not not discovered by the Spanishdiscovered by the Spanish during the during the Conquest. In fact, it wasn't known to the Conquest. In fact, it wasn't known to the outside world until 1911 when an American outside world until 1911 when an American Archeologist, Hiram Bingham, made the Archeologist, Hiram Bingham, made the steep climb to a lofty saddle high above the steep climb to a lofty saddle high above the Urubamba river. Urubamba river.

The The city is clearly laid out in sectionscity is clearly laid out in sections. There . There is a "royal" section where the stone work is is a "royal" section where the stone work is the finest, the rooms are largest and the finest, the rooms are largest and running baths are nearby. The bulk of the running baths are nearby. The bulk of the food for the people was grown on the food for the people was grown on the agricultural terraces of the city.agricultural terraces of the city.

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

Burials: Mummy BundlesBurials: Mummy Bundles

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/inca/

By July 1533 more than 24 tons of exquisite By July 1533 more than 24 tons of exquisite treasure had been collected: idols and chalices, treasure had been collected: idols and chalices, necklaces and nuggets, accumulated through necklaces and nuggets, accumulated through centuries of placer mining. Though this was only centuries of placer mining. Though this was only a fraction of the plunder that awaited the a fraction of the plunder that awaited the Spaniards elsewhere in the Four Quarters of the Spaniards elsewhere in the Four Quarters of the World, Atahuallpa's ransom, as duly recorded in World, Atahuallpa's ransom, as duly recorded in the Spanish archives, was worth at least 267 the Spanish archives, was worth at least 267 million dollars at today's bullion values for gold million dollars at today's bullion values for gold ($315 ounce-Nov/02/1997-) and silver. ($315 ounce-Nov/02/1997-) and silver.

Final BattleFinal Battle

The The 40,000 member army of the Inca 40,000 member army of the Inca was destroyed by a 180 member was destroyed by a 180 member Spanish conquistador armySpanish conquistador army, which , which was commanded by Francisco was commanded by Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro.

The warriors of the The warriors of the Inca were no Inca were no match for the Spanish gunsmatch for the Spanish guns. By . By 1535, the Inca society was 1535, the Inca society was completely overthrown.completely overthrown.