The Inca Empire

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The Inca Empire
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Background

• Empire extended along the Pacific coast and
  Andean highlands from northern border of modern
  Ecuador to Maule River in central Chile
• Inca originated in village of Paqari-tampu, about
  15mi south of Cuzco
• Official language Quecha

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Religion

• Polytheistic religion- belief of many gods
• rituals included forms of divination, sacrifice
  of humans and animals

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Important Positions

• Local governors responsible for exacting labor
  tax which could be paid by service in army, on
  public works, or in agricultural work
• Coya carried out important religious duties and
  governed when Sapa Inca absent
• Nobles ruled provinces w/ chieftains Inca
  conquered

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Political Philosophy

• officials collected taxes, enforced laws, kept
  records on a quipu (collection of knotted colored
  strings) which noted dates, events, population,
  crops
• Constructed roads
• all land belonged to Inca, crops allotted to
  specific groups, government took possession of
  each harvest
• private property forbidden, crime nonexistent,
  citizens never starved
• no written records oral tradition preserved
  through generations

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Economic Developments

• constructed aquaducts, cities, temples,
  fortresses, short rock tunnels, suspension
  bridges, 2250mi road system
• metal works of alloy, copper, tin, bronze, silver
  gold
• developed important medical practices- surgery on
  human skull, anesthesia
• resources-corn, potatoes, coffee, grain
• created woven baskets, woodwinds

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Military Expansion

• attacked, looted villages of neighboring peoples,
  assessing tribute
• conquered people of Brazil, Chile, Columbia,
  Ecuador, and Peru
• gained territory south to the Titicaca Basin,
  north to present-day Quito and conquered its
  people

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Cultural Conflict Cooperation

• Spaniards superior military technology
• horses, muskets, cannons, metal helmets, armor,
  steel swords and lances
• Incan Bronze Age weapons
• llamas, clubs, sticks, wooden spears and arrows
• Incans believed that disasters marked worlds end

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Important People
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Pachacuti (1438-1471)

• Usurped throne form brother Inca Urcon
• Considered the founder of the Inca Empire
• Skilled warrior and chief religious leader
• Claimed he was divine, son of the sun
• Exercised absolute power

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Manco Capac (1022-1107)

• founder of Inca dynasty
• declared himself Sapa Inca, divine son of the Sun
• skilled warrior and leader
• chief religious leader
• exercised absolute power

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Homework
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Important People/Positions

• Emperors known by various titles, Sapa Inca,
  Capac Apu, Intip Cori, or Inca
• Manco Capac (1000 CE)
• Sinchi Roca (1230)
• Lloque Yupanqui (1260)
• Mayta Capac (1300)
• Capac Yupanqui (1320)
• Inca Roca (1350)
• Yahuar Huacac (1380)
• Viracocha Inca (1410)
• Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438-71)
• Topa Inca Yupanqui (1471-93)
• Huayna Capac (1493-1525)
• Huascar (1527-32) 
• Atahualpa (1532-33)