The Expansion of the Inca Empire

Original Information from TCI Modified by Stephanie Andrews and Stephanie Bohn

Adapting to Life in the Andes

3.1 A

Machu Picchu

• Ancient city of the Inca located in the Andes, in northwest Peru.

• It is one example among hundreds of Inca ruins.

• Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911.

Coastal Desert of Peru

Challenges of Life in the Empire

• The empire was incredibly large, 2,500 miles in length.

• It had a variable landscape of coastal deserts, lofty Andes mountain ranges, and rain forests.

• The climate ranged from tropical to polar. • More than six million people had to be fed

each day.

Quinoa Fields

Inca Agricultural Techniques

• The Inca terraced the mountain sides and used guano as fertilizer.

• They channeled water and diverted rivers to irrigate arid areas.

• The Inca filled and drained marshes to produce suitable farmland.• They produced corn, many varieties of

potatoes, quinoa, and many other crops.

A Terraced Farm

Expansion of the Inca Empire

3.1B

Pachacuti (1438-1463)• He had a vision that convinced him to

use warfare to spread Inca culture.• By promising peace and gifts, backed

by threats, he won many battles. • He forced conquered peoples to

obey Inca leaders and learn Quechua. • Pachacuti allowed the conquered

people to keep their native language, leaders, and gods.

Topa Inca Yupanqui (1463-1493)

• He was Pachacuti’s son.• He ruled an enormous empire. • Yupanqui used innovativetechniques to collect taxes.

Huayna Capac (1493-1525)

• He ruled at the high point of the Inca empire.• He fathered two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar,

who didn’t trust each other. • Priests favored Huascar for the next leader

and the Army favored Atahualpa. • This led to a six year civil war. • Atahualpa eventually won, but the wars

weakened the Inca empire.

Inca Social and Political Organization

3.1C

Sapa Inca• Sapa Inca was considered a descendant of the

Sun God; He ruled by divine right.• His subjects were not allowed to look him in

the eye nor did he walk as a mortal. He was carried in a golden litter.

• He married Coya, the empress.

Nobles• Capac Incas were noble by blood. • They controlled land and valuable resources. • Their duties included running the government, army, and priesthood. • Nobles would become the governors of the four quarters.

Used Quipu to Keep Records• Quipu was a method of knotted strings of

wool or cotton. • This system was used to keep records of

numbers of llamas, quantities, of corn, or the number of days commoners worked for the government.

Households• The empire was divided into households. • Every 10 households were governed by the

head of one household who reported to the heads of other households.

• This allowed the Inca to control the economy of diverse communities and collect taxes easily.

Laws

• The state (empire) designated a job for everyone.

• All had to help with large scale Inca projects, i.e. the army or roads.

• In addition to working their own land, commoners worked Inca fields and contributed food and cloth to state warehouses.

Good bye for now!