16.4 – Inca Create a Mountain Empire

Beginnings Inca build on foundations of cultures 1000s 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 & 16m people Expand lands through diplomacy & conquest Before attacks, Incan rules would offer terms of surrender = more peaceful way of expansion

Unity 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

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 10k 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

Works & Records Incan system was close to socialism Focused on public works programs 14k 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 1500s: 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