The Inca civilization originated in Peru and grew to cover over 2,500 miles across western South America by the 15th century, comprising around 12 million people. Ruled by a divine king called the Sapa Inca, the Inca built infrastructure like the 2,000 mile Royal Road and suspension bridges. They developed advanced agricultural techniques using terracing. The Inca had no written language but used knotted string records and a messenger system to efficiently govern their vast empire.
2. Who were the Inca?
They were a people who built a
great civilization on the western
coast of South America.
The first Inca people lived in the area
around Cuzco in modern-day Peru.
In the early 1400’s these people
began conquering neighboring
lands. The Sapa Inca (like a king or
emperorr) ruled over more than 12
million people living on over 2000
square miles of land.
By the late 15th Century, the Inca
empire covered more than 2,500
miles, embracing almost all of
modern Peru, most of Ecuador,
much of Bolivia, and parts of Chile
and Argentina
3. Worshipping the sun and the son
The ruler of the Incan civilization was
known as the Sapa Inca, living son of
Inti, the sun god. Just as no one can
look directly at the sun, no one was
allowed to look directly at the Sapa.
If you did, you would be killed.
Inti the sun god
4. The Empire of the Sun
Located on the western coast of South America, in modern day Peru.
By the 1530’s, the Incas were the largest civilization in the Americas.
There were 12 million people stretched over 2,000 miles.
Their lands were diverse. Near the coast there were dry deserts, while snow
fell in the Andes mountains. There were also the jungles of the Amazon.
6. What was it like to live in an Incan
community?
All families were members of a clan that farmed a specific piece of land.
Most Incans made their living by farming. The potato was their biggest
crop.
Llamas were important because they were very strong and could carry a
lot. However they were very stubborn animals. They used their wool for
clothing and when they died they made them into llama jerky
7.
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10. For The Good of the Empire
Part of the workers time was spent for the Sapa Inca and the empire. While
raising crops some went to the farmer and some went to the empire.
The Inca people believed they were providing for the good of the people.
Supplies were stored in warehouses for the elderly or in times of great need.
He-Who –Sees-Everything (what they called a government
official/inspector) traveled to the inca villages to collect taxes, serve as
matchmaker, and to collect information for the census.
He-Who-Sees-Everything interviewed all the unmarried girls. He sent the
good ones to be a wife to the Sapa Inca and the rest were given to an
unmarried man.
14. What Did the Incas Build?
The Royal Road: A 2.000 mile long road made to quickly send the army to
outlying territories and for trade. It wasn’t until the 1800’s that a longer road
was built. It was 24 feet wide.
Bridges: In 1350, the Incas build a bridge over a steep river gorge call
Apurimac. It was a hanging suspension bridge and the rope that
suspended it had to be replaced every 2 years. It was in service for 500
years.
Mountain staircases: In order to grow crops on the steep mountainside, the
Incas used terraces. They were flat farm fields that were cut into the side of
the mountain. Irrigation systems were put in to bring in water.
15. How to Survive Without a Phone, a Car,
or Written Language
The Incas came up with a strategy for keeping records using pieces of string
of various colors of different lengths with different knots in each string (the
Inca called these quipu).
16. They also used messengers trained to run short distances at great speeds to
carry news throughout the empire.
Since they did not have written language, the messengers had to
memorize the message. He would sprint to the next messenger a mile or
more away and, while still running, he would recite the message to the next
messenger who would immediately commit it to memory and carry it to the
next messenger.
The system was fast! A message could travel 150 miles a day! In the late
1860’s, the famous poney express riders of the American West were only
able to cover about 200 miles a day- and they rode on horseback!
