Ancient IncasAncient Incas

World History IWorld History I

Where?Where?Modern-day countries: • Colombia• Ecuador• Peru • Bolivia• Chile • Argentina

In the Andes Mountains

Who?Who? Inca were a distinct Inca were a distinct

people of the Cuzco people of the Cuzco Valley in South Valley in South America with a unique America with a unique culture and language culture and language called called quechuaquechua

““Inca” actually the term Inca” actually the term for the leaderfor the leader Divine, descendent of Divine, descendent of

the Sun-godthe Sun-god

What?What?

Conquered surrounding tribes one by one (ca. Conquered surrounding tribes one by one (ca. 1313thth century CE) under legendary Manco century CE) under legendary Manco CapacCapac Mighty, fierce militaryMighty, fierce military Mixture of assimilation and independence Mixture of assimilation and independence More of a confederation than an empireMore of a confederation than an empire

Largest Native American civilizationLargest Native American civilization Called Called TahuantinsuyuTahuantinsuyu, , quechua for the "Four quechua for the "Four

Quarters of the World"Quarters of the World" Decline 16Decline 16thth c. – Spanish c. – Spanish conquistadoresconquistadores

Inca SocietyInca Society Strict, hierarchical social structure Strict, hierarchical social structure

focused on the group above the focused on the group above the individualindividual At the top was the “Inca” and the At the top was the “Inca” and the

royal family royal family Each tribe had tribal heads Each tribe had tribal heads At the very bottom were the common At the very bottom were the common

people who were all grouped in people who were all grouped in squads of ten people each with a squads of ten people each with a single "boss" single "boss"

Civil service exam Civil service exam Quechua = language of the empireQuechua = language of the empire

Incan SocietyIncan Society Incas cultivated Incas cultivated

CornCorn PotatoesPotatoes TomatoesTomatoes CottonCotton PeanutsPeanuts Coca Coca

Raised llama Raised llama and alpaca for and alpaca for food and for food and for laborlabor

Inca ReligionInca Religion Central god of the Incan religion Central god of the Incan religion

was the sun-god, was the sun-god, IntiInti (many (many other gods as well)other gods as well)

Believed in an afterlifeBelieved in an afterlife Heaven was depicted by the Heaven was depicted by the

condor; the underworld by the condor; the underworld by the anaconda anaconda

Highest point of the city Highest point of the city reserved for religious activities reserved for religious activities

Sacrificed children, called Sacrificed children, called capachoacapachoa

Inca SocietyInca Society They had no writing system, They had no writing system,

but they kept records on but they kept records on various colored knotted cords various colored knotted cords called called quipuquipu

Violent punishment systemViolent punishment system Being thrown off a cliff, hands Being thrown off a cliff, hands

cut off, eyes cut outcut off, eyes cut out No prisonsNo prisons

Conquered people had to pay Conquered people had to pay a labor tax (a labor tax (mitamita) to the state) to the state

Inca AchievementsInca Achievements Roads without wheels?Roads without wheels?

Astonishing network of roads – some pavedAstonishing network of roads – some paved Chasquis Chasquis delivered messages throughout empiredelivered messages throughout empire

Built massive forts with stone slabs so perfectly Built massive forts with stone slabs so perfectly cut that they didn't require mortar cut that they didn't require mortar

Built irrigation systems and terrace farms for Built irrigation systems and terrace farms for agriculture in the Andes Mountainsagriculture in the Andes Mountains

Inca AchievementsInca Achievements Built aqueducts to their Built aqueducts to their

citiescities Much like who?Much like who?

Very advanced in Very advanced in medicine and surgerymedicine and surgery

Macchu PichuMacchu Pichu

Macchu PichuMacchu Pichu

DeclineDecline Franciso Pizzarro Franciso Pizzarro

kidnapped the emperor kidnapped the emperor Atahualpa Atahualpa Executed him in 1533 Executed him in 1533

Over the next thirty years Over the next thirty years the Spanish struggled the Spanish struggled against various violent against various violent uprisingsuprisings

Gained control in the Gained control in the 1560's 1560's

DeclineDecline The Incas had an army which consisted of 40,000 The Incas had an army which consisted of 40,000

people and the Spanish army in the Americas had people and the Spanish army in the Americas had only 180 people – How did they conquer? only 180 people – How did they conquer? 1)  Much of the Incan army died as a result of 1)  Much of the Incan army died as a result of

smallpox, which was carried to them via the Spanish  smallpox, which was carried to them via the Spanish  2)  The Spanish were able to convince other tribes, 2)  The Spanish were able to convince other tribes,

already under Incan rule, to side with them and over already under Incan rule, to side with them and over throw the Incan Empire throw the Incan Empire

3)  The weapons used by Incan warriors, though 3)  The weapons used by Incan warriors, though effective in tribal warfare, were no match for the effective in tribal warfare, were no match for the Spanish arms Spanish arms