For the people of the Inca Empire, religion was an essential part of life. They lived surrounded by their gods, in a world of spirits and sacred places. Every enterprise, no matter how great or how small, called at least for prayer and often for more elaborate rites.

The Imperial Faiths

The most personal of religions for all people in the empire was that of the ayllu. Each ayllu had its own traditions, holy days, and religious leaders. Each also had its own sacred relics, the most important of which was the mummified body of the ayllu 's founder. If an enemy captured these relics, it could hold the ayllu hostage.

In addition to local traditions was the Incan state religion. The empire depended on religion to tie its people together. The Incas imposed their religion on conquered people, but as an overlay, not...