The IncaThe Inca

Empire of South AmericaEmpire of South America

““It is not well to kill and destroy. For It is not well to kill and destroy. For in the end the conquered peoples are in the end the conquered peoples are all ours, and we should not destroy our all ours, and we should not destroy our own.”own.”

- Pachacuti (Sapa Inca)- Pachacuti (Sapa Inca)

What does this statement say (in your What does this statement say (in your own words)? What does it tell you own words)? What does it tell you about Pachacuti as a leader?about Pachacuti as a leader?

The IncaThe Inca

The Inca civilization The Inca civilization built a vast empire in built a vast empire in the Andes Mountains the Andes Mountains of South America of South America about 800 years ago. about 800 years ago. Like all societies, Like all societies, the Inca were the Inca were heavily influenced by heavily influenced by the geography of the the geography of the area where they area where they lived.lived.

GeographyGeography

Located on the Located on the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Inca Empire Inca Empire included tropical included tropical lowlands, pampas, lowlands, pampas, mountains, and mountains, and many rivers many rivers including the including the Amazon.Amazon.

Andean AgricultureAndean Agriculture The first advanced The first advanced

cultures of South cultures of South America appeared in America appeared in the Andes area. the Andes area. These people fished These people fished the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, hunted animals, and hunted animals, and grew a variety of grew a variety of different food crops different food crops including: peppers, including: peppers, beans, squash, nuts, beans, squash, nuts, cotton, and potatoes.cotton, and potatoes.

Inca Farming TechniquesInca Farming Techniques

The Inca, like many The Inca, like many other mountain other mountain societies, societies, developed developed techniques for techniques for farming on hillsides. farming on hillsides. They cut They cut Terraces Terraces into the steep, into the steep, rocky mountains to rocky mountains to plant crops.plant crops.

Inca SocietyInca Society

The Inca had rigid The Inca had rigid social structures social structures divided into two large divided into two large classes, each with their classes, each with their own hierarchy. The own hierarchy. The two large classes were:two large classes were:

NoblesNobles– 3 Ranks of Nobles3 Ranks of Nobles

CommonersCommoners– Work duties are Work duties are

divided by gender divided by gender and ageand age

Inca Society continuedInca Society continued The Inca lived in The Inca lived in

communities called communities called AyllusAyllus. These . These ayllus shared ayllus shared everything – land, everything – land, food, animals, food, animals, work, and work, and resources. resources. Bartering was the Bartering was the way of trade – not way of trade – not money. money.

All land in the Inca All land in the Inca Empire was Empire was communal property. communal property. The government The government owned the land and owned the land and the peasant farmers the peasant farmers had to grow the had to grow the food. 1/3 of the food. 1/3 of the crops went to the crops went to the government, 1/3 to government, 1/3 to the priests, 1/3 to the priests, 1/3 to the Ayllus.the Ayllus.

Inca ReligionInca Religion The Inca had no written The Inca had no written

language so we don’t language so we don’t know a lot about their know a lot about their religion, but we do know religion, but we do know that they worshipped that they worshipped many gods. The sun god many gods. The sun god named Inti played a big named Inti played a big part in the religion. The part in the religion. The emperor was viewed as a emperor was viewed as a descendant of Inti. The descendant of Inti. The emperor was mummified emperor was mummified after death…after death…

Ice MaidensIce Maidens

The Inca were not The Inca were not known for massive, known for massive, gruesome, and gruesome, and bloody human bloody human sacrifice. However, sacrifice. However, they did have a form they did have a form of human sacrifice of human sacrifice that they engaged in that they engaged in on rare occasions.on rare occasions.

At certain points, At certain points, children would be children would be chosen to join the chosen to join the gods. It was gods. It was considered an honor. considered an honor. Priests would lead the Priests would lead the kids on a long journey kids on a long journey to the top of a to the top of a mountain, feed them mountain, feed them corn alcohol, and allow corn alcohol, and allow the kids to fall asleep the kids to fall asleep and freeze to death.and freeze to death.