Mesoamerica

The Inca Empire

 

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The Incas Create An Empire

While the Aztecs were ruling Mexico, the Incas were building an empire in South America.  The Incas began as a small tribe high in the Andes. They built their capital, Cuzco, in modern-day Peru.  In the mid-1400's, the ruler Pachacuti led the Incas to expand their territory.  By the early 1500s, the Inca Empire stretched from Ecuador to central Chile.

 

To rule this empire of 12 million people, the Incas formed a strong central government.  the Incas replaced local leaders of conquered aras with new people loyal to the Inca government.  The Incas established an official language, Quechua.  The Incas paid taxes in the form of labor.  This labor tax system was called the mita.  There were no merchants or markets.  Instead, government officials would distribute goods collected through the mita.

 

Life In The Inca Empire

Incas society had two main social classes.  The emperor, priests and government officials were the upper class.  The upper class lived in Cuzco and did not pay the labor tax.  The lower class included included farmers, artisans and servants.  Most Incas were farmers. they could not own more goods than they needed.

 

The Inca religion was based on the belief that Inca rulers were related to the sun god and never really died.  Inca ceremonies oftn included sacrifice of llamas, cloth, or food.  They also believed certain natural landforms had magical powers.

 

Incas were known for their masonry, or stonework.  They built massive buildings and a network of roads.  Inca artisans made beautiful pottery, jewelry, and textiles.  The Incas had no written language.  Instead, they kept records with cords and passed down stores and song orally.

 

Pizarro Conquers the Incas

In the late 1520s a civil war began between an Inca ruler's two sons,  Atahualpa and Huascar.  Atahualpa won, but the war had weakened the Inca army.  On his way to be crowned king, Atahualpa heard that conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro had arrived in the Inca Empire.  When Atahualpa came to meet them, the Spanish captured him.  They attacked and killed thousands of Inca soldiers. The Incas brought gold and silver to offer for Atahualps's return.  But instead, the Spanish killed him.  The Spanish defeated the Incas and ruled their lands for the next 300 years.

 

Complete the following questions using the two column note format.

 

1.  Where did the Incas originate?

2.  Describe the major aspects of the Incas' society.

3.  What was the mita and why was it important?

4.  Explain the Incas' social hierachy.

5.  Describe the religion of the Inca civilization.

6.  Describe the economy of the Inca Empire.

 

To learn more about the Inca Civilization visit the website below:

 

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