Summary:
The Inca Empire in modern-day Peru lasted from 1450-1530 until in was destroyed by the invading Spanish colonialists.
The Inca Empire lasted from 1450 - 1530, when it was destroyed by the Spanish.
The Inca had a governmental system that was based on a hierarchy. from the King who was considered a son of god, to the peasants.
The Inca empire stretched across modern day Argentina, Peru and Chile. threw out the empire, there were 3 distinct geographical features: The Andes mountains, The Atacama desert, and the Amazon rainforest.
The Inca were polytheistic and they practiced ancestral worship. Some of their gods were: moon, thunder, rain, mountain... all nature related gods. they even considered stones (hunacas) objects of worship. sometimes, the most beautiful 10-year-old girls were selected to be sacrificed to the gods and buried atop Andean mountain peaks. in less dramatic ceremonies, guinea-pigs or llamas were sacrificed.
Because of common drought, the Inca developed a canal system, as well as stepped terraces for farming. varieties of corn, potato squash, beans, peppers and peanuts were all crops grown and farmed by hand.
In the highlands, farmers used the remains of slaughtered llamas as a fertilizer. llamas, alpacas, and vicus, were very important to the economy. In addition to carrying burdens, llamas and alpacas were raised as a source of coarse wool and of dung, which was used for fuel( dried and then burned). The Inca also raised guinea pigs, ducks, and dogs, which were the main sources of meat protein.
The women would weave cotton or wool. The geometric patterns were of everyday life, or of religion, and was used to record certain events. Weaving was considered a significant art form
The Incas were skilled crafts such as textiles, weaving, pottery, and metalwork. Inca art was used in both religion and daily life clothing.
Inca emperors built a 10,000-network of stone roads, and had trained runners that could cover about 250 miles a day!
The Inca built suspension bridges of rope that were marvels of engineering. Some of these rope bridges were about 330 feet in length. The bridges were made from ropes of twined plant fibers. Cuzco was the Inca capital for trade and government.
Machu Picchu, is also called "city in the sky", Hiram Bingham discovered the city in 1911. the Spanish had not discovered or plummeted this city, and most impressive is the masonry, which is cut with such perfection and care.During the 1500s, Atahualpa was the 12th and last ruler of the Incas. the king was the son of god, and thus always had unlimited power to govern. Inca kings lived a lavish lifestyle, where they would attend ceremonies, and be pampered.
llamas, alpacas, and vicuas, or fuel. The Inca also raised guinea pigs, ducks, and dogs, these were all their main sources of protein. the llama dung was used for fire fuel. and vicuas produced a very soft wool.
In the 1530s, Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca. the main driving force behind these Spaniards was greed, they wanted all the Inca gold. the Spanish won by having the advantages of horses and gunpowder, which was no match for the primitive weapons of the Inca. This conquest ended the Inca empire and destroyed its culture.
If the Spanish hadn't come to South America, some other greedy Europeans would have. throughout history, the side with ths strongest military pillage and plunder, kill, and then leave or set up a colony. if the Spanish hadn't found the Inca, someone else would have. It would only be a matter of time before they would meet their doom. Because in Europe, people began questioning this new worlds existence, and came over to find new land. and when they also found hordes of gold, why that was even better. so whether it be the Spanish, English or the french, the Inca would have thrived perhaps for a few more years, but either way, would meet the same destiny.
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