The Inca Empire extended along the Andes mountains from modern Ecuador to central Chile, with its capital at Cuzco, Peru. The Incas developed an extensive road system and advanced practices in agriculture, engineering, and medicine. However, in 1532 the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived with 160 men and took the Inca emperor Atahualpa hostage. Despite receiving a ransom of gold and treasures, Pizarro had Atahualpa killed the following year. The Spanish conquest and a plague led to the fall of the Inca Empire by 1535.

1. The
Inca Empire

2. 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

3.  Polytheistic religion-
Pantheon headed by
Inti-the sun god
 combined features of
animism, worship of
nature gods
 offered food, clothing,
and drink
 rituals included forms
of divination, sacrifice
of humans and
animals

4. Events leading to
Rise and Fall
 1438: Manco Capac established capital at
Cuzco (Peru)
 1400-1500: Pachacuti gained control of Andean
population about 12 million people
 1525: Emperor Huayna Capac died of plague;
civil war broke out between two sons because
no successor named
 1532: Spanish arrived in Peru
 1535: Empire lost

5. Francisco Pizarro
 1527: Pizarro wanted to
discover wealth;
embarked on his third
voyage to the New World
 Sept. to Nov. 1532:
The Cajamarca massacre-
Pizarro led 160 Spaniards
to Cuzco, slaughtering
over 2,000 Inca and
injuring 5,000

6.  November 16, 1532:
Atahualpa captured by
Spaniards, offered gold
for his freedom.
 Pizarro accepted more
than 11 tons of gold
($6 million+) baubles,
dishes, icons,
ornaments, jewelry, &
vases, but never
released Atahualpa.
 July 26, 1533:
Atahualpa was killed

7. 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

8. 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

9. Political Philosophy
 policy of forced resettlement ensured political stability
 officials collected taxes, enforced laws, kept records
on a quipu (collection of knotted colored strings)
which noted dates, events, population, crops
 use of road system strictly limited to government,
military business
 private property forbidden, crime nonexistent, citizens
never starved
 no written records; oral tradition preserved through
generations

10. Economic Developments
 constructed aquaducts, cities, temples, fortresses, short
rock tunnels, suspension bridges, 2250mi road system
 developed important medical practices- surgery on
human skull, anesthesia
 resources-corn, potatoes, coffee, grain

11. Today
 descendants of Inca are present day Quechua-speaking
peasants of Andes, constitute about 45% population of Peru
 combine farming, herding w/ simple traditional technology
 rural settlements three kinds: families living in midst of
fields, true village communities w/ fields outside of inhabited
centers, combination of two
 towns centers of mestizo (mixed-blood) population
 Indian community close-knit, families usually intermarrying;
much of agricultural work done cooperatively
 religion is Roman Catholicism infused w/ pagan hierarchy of
spirits and deities