The Inca EmpireThe Inca Empire

Great EmpiresGreat Empires

Roads Link the EmpireRoads Link the Empire

14,000-mile-long network of roads and bridges spanned the empire

traversed rugged mountains and harsh deserts

14,000-mile-long network of roads and bridges spanned the empire

traversed rugged mountains and harsh deserts

The Inca Road SystemThe Inca Road System

roads ranged from paved stone to simple paths

guest houses provided shelter for weary travelers

a system of runners traveled the roads carrying messages from one end of the empire to the other

allowed the easy movement of troops to bring control to zones where trouble might be brewing

roads ranged from paved stone to simple paths

guest houses provided shelter for weary travelers

a system of runners traveled the roads carrying messages from one end of the empire to the other

allowed the easy movement of troops to bring control to zones where trouble might be brewing

governed by a governed by a central central

bureaucracybureaucracy

divided territory divided territory and people into and people into

manageable unitsmanageable units SocialSocialgroups were groups were identified by identified by

officially dictated officially dictated patternspatterns

ononclothingclothing

imposed a single imposed a single official language, official language,

Quechua Quechua (KEHCH•wuh)(KEHCH•wuh)

founded founded schools to schools to

teach Incan teach Incan waysways

5 Easy Steps for the Inca Empire to

Create Unity

5 Easy Steps for the Inca Empire to

Create Unity

The Inca System of Record KeepingThe Inca System of Record Keeping

the Inca had no writing system

kept records using a quipu, a complicated set of colored strings tied with different-sized knots at various intervals

the Inca had no writing system

kept records using a quipu, a complicated set of colored strings tied with different-sized knots at various intervals

each knot represented a certain amount or its

multiple

the colors of each cord represented the item being counted: people, animals,

land, etc.

Quipucamayoc: special officials who kept records of births,

deaths, marriages, crops, and history

Machu Picchu: Inca Monumental Architecture

Machu Picchu: Inca Monumental Architecture

discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912

a sun temple, public buildings, a water system, and a central plaza

possible use: an estate of the king Pachacuti a retreat for Inca rulers or the

elite actual purpose = unknown

discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912

a sun temple, public buildings, a water system, and a central plaza

possible use: an estate of the king Pachacuti a retreat for Inca rulers or the

elite actual purpose = unknown

Master EngineersMaster Engineers

Incan builders Incan builders carved and carved and transported transported

huge blocks of huge blocks of stone, fitting stone, fitting

them together them together perfectly perfectly

without mortar.without mortar.

Like the Like the Romans, the Romans, the

Inca were Inca were masterful masterful engineers engineers

and and stonemasonstonemason

s. s.

They had They had no iron no iron

tools and tools and did not did not use the use the wheel.wheel.

Religion Supports the StateReligion Supports the State

Incan ruler was considered a descendant of the sun god, Inti

Temple of the Sun in Cuzco was the most sacred of all shrines

It was heavily decorated in gold, a metal the Inca referred to as “sweat of the sun”

Incan ruler was considered a descendant of the sun god, Inti

Temple of the Sun in Cuzco was the most sacred of all shrines

It was heavily decorated in gold, a metal the Inca referred to as “sweat of the sun”

Early 1500s: Discord in the

Empire

Early 1500s: Discord in the

Empire

King Huayna Capac toured the empire

in Quito, Ecuador, the king opened a gift box. Out flew butterflies and moths, considered an evil omen.

About 1525, while still in Quito, Huayna Capac died of disease.

Civil war broke out between his sons, Atahualpa and Huascar, who both claimed the throne.

Atahualpa won, but the war tore the empire apart.

1532, the Spanish arrive and conquer the empire.

Inca Power and DeclineInca Power and Decline