1. The Inca Empire CE

2. Geography Largest pre-Columbian empire
Stretched km along western coast of South America
Andes Mountains
Modern-Day: Peru & Chile
Cuzco- Political and Military hub
Identified themselves as “The Children of the Sun”
Inca, Inka, Incan

3. Historical Records Had no written language
No first-hand records remain
Only oral history & Spanish observations
First Emperor Manco presented as a god to justify his “holy authority”
Along with brothers and sisters, called forth from the earth
Wandered the land until they came to Cuzco
Killed the original inhabitants
Typical origin story
Justify connection to the land
Superiority over other peoples

4. Kingdom of Cuzco (Cusco)
Located on the Andean mountain ranges
small city-state founded around the 12th century
through warfare and assimilation its area of control expanded
Cuzco became central government with 4 surrounding provinces
Sapa Inca “the Only Inca”
Ruler of Cuzco & eventually all of empire
succeeded by the Inca Empire ( )

6. Sapa Inca First Dynasty 1200-1350 CE
little is known, tied to mythical foundation story
Began with Manco Capac- son of the Sun god
passed from father to son
rule limited to city of Cuzco
Mayta Capac (First Dynasty 4 of 5)
a great warrior
conquered many surrounding tribes
Second Dynasty CE
Began with Inca Roca
Ended with Atahualpa
Incan civil war exploited by Spanish
Post-Spanish conquest CE
Most rulers installed by Spanish
Tupac Amaru- final Sapa Inca

7. Machu Picchu

8. Machu Picchu Most well-known Incan historical site
mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas"
located in Cusco region
Believed that it was an estate for Emperor Pachacuti 
built on a mountain ridge 7,970 ft above sea level
Built around 1450, but abandoned during  Spanish Conquest
not known to the Spanish, never plundered
unknown to the outside world until 1911

9. Road System “Inca Trail” 39,000 km of roads
Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia
Key for movement of troops and communication
Runners used for information transfer
Llamas & alpacas for transport
Never discovered the wheel
“Inca Trail”
ends in Machu Picchu
still travelled today

10. Road System

11. Quipu Cord & Knot based record keeping system
Used in various cultures, including ancient China
Recorded taxes, census records, and military organization  
cords contained information encoded by knots
could have only a few or up to 2,000 cords
few have survived to modern day

12. Quipu

13. Bridges Key part of the road system
suspension bridges over rivers and gorges
Building material:
Natural Fibers woven into rope
Wooden floor boards
Tied to massive rocks on either side
Rebuilt every year
Spanish marveled at strength
Spanish Cavalry could cross
Only 1 Incan Bridge remains
Rebuilt every June

14. Age Grade Taxation Population divided into 12 “Age Grades”
Based on Age and Usefulness to the state
Most important: able-bodied men
Each category had specific job expectations
Taxation
Collected in the form of labour
Citizen, Nobles and the Emperor worked the state land
Both planting and harvesting
Would stop working based on rank
Artisans were exempt from taxation
Weavers, Metal workers, Potters

15. Military Constant expansion = importance of Military
200, 000 soldiers at height
Spies sent to report on wealth and resources of a region
2 Forms of Conquest
Peaceful Conquest
Benefits: gifts, money, women to create family connections
Children of local ruler travel to Cuzco to be trained for future rule
Demands: land, labour, and soldiers
Violent conquest
Hand to hand warfare
the defeated leader would be executed
Population relocated or killed
Weaponry
Ax, Club, Spear, Sling, Bow & Arrow, Bolas
headdresses and silver/bronze breastplates
necklaces made from the teeth of enemies
Adopted Spanish Swords and Cavalry

16. Military Begin battle with insults and demonstrations of strength
Overwhelm opponent with numbers
Fake retreat and catch enemy in Pincer maneuver
Hannibal would have been proud