The Incas Miss Bennett

Introduction Started in present-day Peru 1400s C.E. Developed in Andes Mountains (South America) Lasted until 1532 Stretched for over 2,500 miles Chasquis: Incan messengers used to carry messages Rise of the Incas

Three different civilizations, three different locations

Rise of the Inca Empire Adopted ideas of earlier cultures Moches (100 B.C.E- 700 C.E.) Built cities, dug irrigation canals, developed social classes Chimus (1300s-1400s) Built cities, irrigation, preserved art traditions of the Moches

Beginnings of the Empire Capital: Cuzco, high up in mts. of Southern Peru First settled around 1200 C.E. Began expanding empire in 1438 Attacked by Chancas Yupanqui (Pachacuti) led them to victory Pachacuti expanded empire By 1500s, their empire covered 350,000 sq. miles! Horrible Histories: Pachacuti Statue of Pachacuti

GO FORMATIVE BREAK STOP! Use your device and answer question number one under Incas Notes assignment. Answer on a slip of paper: do you think Pachacuti was a quality leader? Why or why not?

Roads and Messengers Relied on a system of roads 15,000 miles of road Inland road called Royal Road 15,000 miles of road Shelter along road every 15-30 miles Allowed for trade, travel, communication Sent messages through relay system Messenger stations every couple miles Chasquis carried messages Messages could travel more than 250 miles/day Message contained memorized words and set of strings called quipus Quipus: set of strings, knots used to carry messages for the Inca Knots tied at various places, different colors represented numbers No system of writing

Class Structure Strictly organized Three broad classes: emperor and family, nobles, commoners “Incan by blood” – family originally from Cuzco Incan Hole Image of an Inca road

Class Structure Continued Emperor Sapa Inca Descended from Inti, sun god Complete authority Luxurious life Many wives and children, one primary wife: Coya Nobles Helped rule empire All nobles had privileges Not all nobles equal Highest ranking: Capa Hahua: considered “Incas by privilege” Curacas: local leaders of conquered people Commoners Majority of population Did not “practice” slavery, but required to support the govt. Crops: squash, peppers, beans, corn, etc Most important crop: potato Required to give most of crops to govt. Govt. gave food support to elderly/disabled

Go Formative Break STOP! Use your device and answer question number two in the Inca Notes assignment. No device? On your slip of paper, write a question you have about what you learned today.

Family Life Belonged to clans: ayllus Ayllu: an Incan clan, the basic unit of Incan society Did not own land individually, everything belonged to emperor Paid taxes: mita Commoner children: no formal education, learned skills Noble children: special tutors for sons Young men married early 20s, young women at 16 Inca Civilization

Inca Religion Very important Polytheistic Supreme god: Viracocha, creator of the world Other gods who controlled parts of nature Sun god: Inti Emperor descended from God of Agriculture Huacas ( WHAH-kuz) Huacas: Sacred objects and places where Inca believed spirits lived Drawing of Inca worshippers

Inca Religion Continued Highly formal Most important temple: Sun Temple Regular sacrifices to the gods Corn, live animals Human sacrifices only on sacred occasions or natural disaster Practiced divination (predicting future) Women played important role Chosen Women Girls 8-10 Lived in convents Left at age 15 Worked at temples, taught at convents, became wives of nobility, sacrificed at sacred events

GO FORMATIVE STOP! Get out your device and answer question number one under Inca Notes: Day 2 assignment No device? In your margins write out something you just learned about the Inca religion.

Inca Relations with Other People Did not immediately declare war Set up meeting with other tribe Join the Inca empire or engage with us in war Leaders allowed to keep local power Build sun temple Religious objects belong to tribe kept in Cuzco Had to adopt Incan ways

Fall of the Inca Empire Horrible Histories: Spanish Conquest of the Inca Franciso Pizarro sailed from Panama to west coast of South America in 1531 Arrived after Inca civil war between brothers: Atahuallpa and Huascar Atahuallpa became Sapa Inca Pizarro captured Atahuallpa Atahuallpa offered ransom for his safety, Pizarro accepted ransom Pizarro killed Atahuallpa, at least 2000 Inca followers Spanish returned later with army, destroyed civilization, enslaved remaining Inca

Review Rapidly expanded in 1400s from Cuzco, Inca capital Impressive system of roads/messengers Three main levels in class structure: emperor/family, nobility, commoners All Incas belonged to ayllus Polytheistic Offered conquered people opportunity to join Inca empire Conquered by Fransico Pizarro and the Spanish