INCAS Early 12th Century Their Empire was one of

the most extensive Peru Ecuador Chile Parts of Bolivia and

Argentina

INCAS Better Farmers than the

Mayas Terraced the land and used

fish for fertilizer Built fortresses and

palaces of beautifully cut stone

INCAS They had not discovered

the use of the wheel so… Used the llama to

transport heavy loads The llama was the only

known beast of burden prior to the arrival of the Spanish

INCAS Every worker was

provided for: The government gave

them clothes, housing, enough to eat and a job

(Socialism) But…

INCAS He could not leave his

village without permission Constantly spied upon Had to remain at his job

until his death Marriages were arranged

INCAS The rulers of the Incas

were considered to be divine descendents of the sun god

Incas were non-literate and little is known of them before the Spanish conquest

INCAS CENTRALIZATION OF

Authority = Made it easier for the

Spaniards to conquer the Incas and Aztecs.

When the rulers were captured, the people were helpless to make decisions

INCAS Inca power rose from the

city of Cuzco, north of Lake Titicaca

They expanded slowly, then in 1438, under their ruler Pachacuti conquered all of Peru

INCAS The Incas called their

empire Tahuantinsuyu “Land of the four

quarters” Inca emperors ruled six

million people (2500 mile area)

INCAS Incas were skilled in:

Organization Administration

Government was based on a hierarchic system

Had an extensive road system to tie their widespread domains together

INCAS Inca Religion had a

creator god, but primarily worshiped the sun god

Included sin and confessions and personal immortality

Unlike the Mayas they were not obsessed with lucky and unlucky days

INCAS The wealthy sacrificed

grain or killed llamas in rituals

The poorer sacrificed guinea pigs

Human sacrifices, usually of children happened, but nothing like the Aztecs

INCAS The size of the empire

created a problem: Empire had primitive level

of transportation and communication (Rulers were not very effective)

Government focused power on one divine ruler-caused problems

INCAS Three great Inca monarchs

Pachacuti Topa Huayna Capac

In 1525 2 sons of Huayna took the

throne and fought with each other for 6 years

INCAS At the end of the Inca civil

war the Spanish invaded At the same time a great

plague spread throughout Peru Probably small pox or

measles Spain invaded in the 1530’s