16 4 Inca Create a Mountain Empire Inca

16. 4 – Inca Create a Mountain Empire

• Inca build on foundations of cultures 1000 s of years old • Start on a high plateau in the Andes, move to Valley of Cuzco • Launch beliefs & traditions that build an empire – Ex: Rules descended from the Sun God, Inti – Only men from 11 noble lineages could be leaders Beginnings

Empire • 1438: Pachacuti comes to power • Inca conquer all of Peru; lands 2, 500 miles along the west coast by 1500 • “Land of the Four Quarters” – 80 provinces & 16 m people • Expand lands through diplomacy & conquest • Before attacks, Incan rules would offer terms of surrender = more peaceful way of expansion

• Control of a large empire = Split areas ruled from central bureaucracy • Single language, Quechua, roads & trade network link vast empire • Build cities & government buildings in conquered areas to show power • All roads led to Cuzco, the capital • Master engineers w/o the wheel Unity

Government • Controlled production & distribution of goods = very little private trade • Social System: Ayllu – Extended family build canals, store food, help out people in harsh times • Ayllu structure governed on the decimal system into groups of 10 to 10 k – Each group led by a chief • Local leaders left to rule own areas • People paid tribute to Incan rule through labor, or mita

Incan Social Structure

• Incan system was close to socialism • Focused on public works programs – 14 k mile road & bridge network – Use chasquis, runners, as an empire postal service – Easy movement of troops & goods • No written language = oral tradition • Use quipu, knotted strings, for accounting • Calendars used for religious purposes Works & Records

Religion • Helped reinforce the power of the state • Believed in the balance of nature – Worshipped the moon, stars, thunder, etc. • Creator God = Viracocha • Kings descended from sun god, Inti • Religious servants: Mamakuna (female) & Yamacuna (male) – Lifetime state workers • Sacrificed Llamas for goods from the gods

Great Cities • Cuzco = capital, rich in gold (sweat of the sun) – Temple of the Sun – Walls covered in gold • Machu Picchu – Discovered in 1912: Isolated – Central plaza surrounded by temples & public buildings – Mysterious: religious center or Pachacuti’s estate?

Machu Picchu

Discord • Early 1500 s: Height of empire’s power • Bad Omen: Emperor Huayan Capac opens gift box, moths fly out; dies weeks later • Empire splits b/w Atahualpa & Huascar = civil war • Atahualpa wins, but empire weakened • Conquered by Spanish

Death of Atahualpa