MESOAMERICA: The Incas
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Transcript of MESOAMERICA: The Incas
Located in the Andes Mountains on western coast of South America
Empire stretched from modern-day Ecuador in north to Chile in south; largest empire in the Americas
Macchu Picchu• 8,000 feet above sea-level, between 2
mountain peaks• Purpose is unknown
Cuzco (capital of empire, in southern Peru)
Ruled by an emperor Divided territory into
units w/ central bureaucracy Single language (Quechua) Built cities in conquered
areas, founded Incan schools
Social system based on form of community cooperation = the “ayllu”
Based on high-altitude agriculture Incan state controlled most
economic activity Demanded labor tribute from
subjects = “mita” (all able-bodied citizens had to work for state a certain number of days per year)
Similar to socialism or modern welfare system
Polytheistic Worshipped fewer gods than Aztecs Focused on key nature spirits (sun,
moon, stars, thunder) Inti = sun god = Incan ruler
considered a descendant of Inti Incans embalmed their dead
(believed in after-life, worshipped spirits of ancestors, mummies of Incan rulers treated as if still alive)
Originally lived in high plateau of Andes, finally settled in Valley of Cuzco
1200s C.E. = established small kingdom 1438 C.E. = Pachacuti became emperor,
Inca conquered all of Peru 1500 C.E. = Inca ruled empire 2,500
miles long (about 16 million people) Accomplished conquest through
diplomacy and military force
After death of ruler Huayna Capac, empire was split between 2 sons (dual emperors)
Worked for a while, then civil war began
Spanish arrived at end of civil war, conquered the Incan empire
Road system• 14,000 miles of roads and bridges
Calendar• 2 types (night and day = could track the
gods in charge of each day and time) Record-keeping system
• “Quipu” Never developed a writing system