The civilization of the IncasThe civilization of the Incas1438-15321438-1532

A presentation by

Zeke St. John Daniella Forman

Julia Kramer

LocationLocation • Located near the Andean Mountains, present day Peru, in South America• To the north were the Andean mountains• To one side of the Andes, was the Amazon jungle, where wood, fruit, and

natural medicines were found

Rise To PowerRise To Power • In 1350 the Incans settled in and around the city of Cuzco.• In 1438 the Incas won a war against against the Chancay. The ruler at the time

Pachacuti began to overthrow other tribes of South America.• Pachacuti gained the land from Cuzco to shores of Lake Titicaca using military

campaigns and alliances.• Pachacuti then starts to build the grand city of Machu Picchu. He orders to bulid

more terraces to grow more crops.• He afterward rebuilds Cuzco.• He appoints his son, Tupac Inca Yupanqui as the next ruler, who then conquers

the Andes region, as far south as Chile and as far North as Equador. • They gave their enemies the option to surrender before using forceful tactics.

Once conquered they allowed the conquered people to keep their own customs and religion.

Cultural achievementsCultural achievements

• The Incas two main products were pottery and cloth.• They did not use the wheel and had no system of writing but through a system if

knots they were able to keep track of numbers.• Even with out the use of modern tools or the use of the wheel the Incas were able

to create sturdy architecture in an area prone to earthquakes • They had an elaborate calendar like the Aztecs and the Mayans.

Daily LifeDaily Life

At the top of the social structure was the Sapa Inca, his wives, and Commander of the army.

The next class was known as

quipucamayoc. This class contained accountants, army captains, and musicians

Daily Life Daily Life (Continued)(Continued)

• The bottom of the social structure were the farmers, sorcerers, and herding families

• Workers were organized into units of 10-20 people, called ayllu. Each person had their own job.

• There was no capitalism. Meaning people could not start their own small businesses.

• Most people were farmers• Houses were made of sun baked bricks, hanging leather and cloth

Inca ReligionInca Religion • The Incas Were polytheistic, meaning they believed in many gods. • Incas were known as the sun children, and worshipped gods of nature, like the

Shinto• Priests were believed to have the ability to read omens and signs from ancestors

and gods.• Like the Egyptians, the Inca mummified their dead and believed in an afterlife. The

funerals they held lasted 8 days. • Rulers that were mummified were believed to still be alive. Servants would still

wait on them and family members would consult them for advice. • Inca priests and priestesses were believed to do the work of the gods, and because

of this, were highly honored and usually part of the royal family.

DeclineDecline

• Huayna Capac’s (1493-1525) son, Ninan Cuyuchi succeeded him.• They both passed away due to small pox or measles, which were diseases brought

to the Americas by the Europeans. • The next rulers had to be within the blood line. Two half brothers, Huascar and

Atahualpa fought for power, fighting a long civil war.• The long civil war internal weakened them• With out a ruler the empire fell apart• During the reign of King Philip, the Spanish conquistadors took over many part of

South America, including the Inca Empire in Peru

Bibliography Bibliography • Martin, Phillip, incas.mrdonn.org• Dr. Cadezski, http://library.thinkquest.org/C005121/data/spain_files/image003.gif• http://www.justperu.org/peru/peru-inca.asp• Schwarts,Stuart B., History-world.org/inca.htm• http://thebesttraveldestinations.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/

Machu_Picchu_Peru_06.jpg• Pratt, Norman, incaempire.org.uk/riseandfallPDF • Peru Culture Society, http://www.discover-peru.org/category/history/history-inca-culture-

civilization/page/2/• Education Foncation, http://library.thinkquest.org/J002387/IncaPeople.htm• Martin, Philip, http://incas.mrdonn.org/religion.html• http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture14/r_14-3.html• ancientworld.net • Jackemills.com/chris.html• bvapush.pbworks.com• http://www.risefallandsurvival.org/jared_diamond.htm