5.3 The Incas5.3 The Incas

The Incas Create an EmpireThe Incas Create an Empire

While the Aztecs were ruling Mexico, the While the Aztecs were ruling Mexico, the Inca Empire arose in South America.Inca Empire arose in South America. They began as a small tribe in the They began as a small tribe in the

Andes where their capital was Andes where their capital was CuzcoCuzco in what is now Peru.in what is now Peru.

MAP MAP QUESTION…QUESTION…Why was Why was Cuzco a Cuzco a better better location than location than Quito for the Quito for the Inca capital?Inca capital?

Mid-1400s a ruler named Mid-1400s a ruler named PachacutiPachacuti began expanding Inca territory.began expanding Inca territory.

By the early 1500s the Inca Empire was By the early 1500s the Inca Empire was huge.huge. It stretched from present-day Ecuador It stretched from present-day Ecuador

south to central Chile.south to central Chile. 12 million people with a strong central 12 million people with a strong central

government.government.

Inca Social ClassesInca Social Classes There were two main social classes in Inca There were two main social classes in Inca

society:society: The Upper ClassThe Upper Class the emperor, the emperor,

government officials, and priests.government officials, and priests.

• They lived in stone houses in Cuzco and They lived in stone houses in Cuzco and wore the best clothes.wore the best clothes.

• They did not have to pay taxes and They did not have to pay taxes and enjoyed many luxuries.enjoyed many luxuries.

For example For example Inca rulers could relax Inca rulers could relax at at Machu PicchuMachu Picchu (a royal retreat high (a royal retreat high in the Andes Mountains)in the Andes Mountains)

The Lower ClassThe Lower Class farmers (most Incas), farmers (most Incas), artisans, and servants. (there were no slaves artisans, and servants. (there were no slaves because the Incas didn’t believe in slavery)because the Incas didn’t believe in slavery)• Farmers grew all sorts of crops depending Farmers grew all sorts of crops depending

on which part of the empire they lived. on which part of the empire they lived. (maize and peanuts in the warm valleys (maize and peanuts in the warm valleys and potatoes in the cooler mountains)and potatoes in the cooler mountains)

• Incas also raised llamas for wool and meat.Incas also raised llamas for wool and meat.• The lower class people dressed in plain The lower class people dressed in plain

clothes and lived simply.clothes and lived simply.• They could not own more goods than just They could not own more goods than just

what they needed to survive and had to what they needed to survive and had to give most of what they made to the upper give most of what they made to the upper classclass..

ReligionReligion

Incas thought their ruler was related to Incas thought their ruler was related to the sun god and never really died.the sun god and never really died. As a result, priests brought mummies As a result, priests brought mummies

of former kings to many ceremonies.of former kings to many ceremonies. People gave these royal mummies People gave these royal mummies

food and gifts.food and gifts.

Inca ceremonies included sacrifices, but Inca ceremonies included sacrifices, but unlike the Aztec and Maya, they rarely unlike the Aztec and Maya, they rarely sacrificed humans.sacrificed humans. They sacrificed llamas, cloth, or food They sacrificed llamas, cloth, or food

instead.instead.

In addition to practicing the official In addition to practicing the official religion, people outside Cuzco religion, people outside Cuzco worshipped other gods at local sacred worshipped other gods at local sacred places.places. The Incas believed certain The Incas believed certain

mountaintops, rocks and springs had mountaintops, rocks and springs had magical powers.magical powers.

AchievementsAchievements

Stone temples Stone temples they they were masters at were masters at masonrymasonry (stonework) (stonework) so their temples did so their temples did not need cement to not need cement to hold the stones hold the stones together.together.

Art Art pottery, gold pottery, gold and silver jewelryand silver jewelry

The Incas had no written language.The Incas had no written language. They instead kept records with knotted They instead kept records with knotted

rope called rope called quipusquipus..

• Knots in the rope stood for numbers Knots in the rope stood for numbers and different colors represented and different colors represented information about crops, land and information about crops, land and other important topics.other important topics.

Pizarro Conquers the IncasPizarro Conquers the Incas In 1532 Spanish soldiers led by In 1532 Spanish soldiers led by Francisco Francisco

PizarroPizarro arrived in the Inca Empire. arrived in the Inca Empire. When the Inca king, When the Inca king, AtahualpaAtahualpa came to came to

meet the group, the Spanish attacked.meet the group, the Spanish attacked. Since the Spanish had caught the Inca Since the Spanish had caught the Inca

by surprise they quickly captured by surprise they quickly captured Atahualpa and killed thousands of Inca Atahualpa and killed thousands of Inca soldiers.soldiers.

Francisco Pizarro organized expeditions to explore the west coast of South America. His first two trips were mostly uneventful. But on his third trip, Pizarro met the Incas. With only about 180 men, he conquered the Inca Empire, which had been weakened by disease and civil war. In 1535 Pizarro founded Lima, the capital of modern Peru.

Francisco Pizarro

(1475–1541)

To win his freedom, Atahualpa asked To win his freedom, Atahualpa asked his people to fill a room with gold and his people to fill a room with gold and silver for Pizarro.silver for Pizarro.

Despite this huge payment, the Despite this huge payment, the Spanish killed Atahualpa. Spanish killed Atahualpa.

By 1537 Pizarro had defeated the last By 1537 Pizarro had defeated the last of the Incas ending their empire in of the Incas ending their empire in South America.South America.

The Spanish ruled the entire Inca The Spanish ruled the entire Inca Empire for the next 300 years.Empire for the next 300 years.