The Incas (1200 – 1537)

The Aztecs (1100s – 1521) Compare

South America in the Andes Mountains along the west

coast.

The Incas Create an Empire

Capital city was Cuzco (in present day Peru).

Center for government, trade, learning, and

religion.

Cuzco today

Pachacuti

(pah-chah-KOO-tee)

“He Who Shakes the Earth” - Incan ruler,

He expanded the empire to 12 million people. Built a strong central government

to rule over them all. Unified the empire through

forced assimilation.

Formed an official language that ALL of the people had

to use called Quechua

(KE-chuh-wuh). Still spoken in

Peru.

Most Incans had to work for themselves and the government. Farmers worked their own land and the government lands. This

was a way of paying taxes through labor instead of goods or money.

The government closely controlled the lives and

resources of the people. No markets or merchants. The government gave out what was needed and stored the

rest for emergencies.

Life in the Incan Empire

Two groups –

1. Emperor and other government officials, and priests were in the upper

class. Did not have to pay labor tax.

2. Farmers, artisans (skilled workers), and servants were of the lower class. Farmed

maize (corn) and peanuts.

Built terraces in the mountainside for

farming.

Raised Llamas

(related to the camel).

Youtube llamma spit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ITZyix-

K4tI&feature=endscreen&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&saf

e=active 1:31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcQmW1OPHk&safety_mode=true&

persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active :30

Lower class people by law could not own

more than what they needed to survive.

No slaves. Slavery was not practiced

by this group.

Believed their rulers were related to the

sun god.

Usually sacrificed Llamas, cloth, and food instead of humans.

Very large empire. Runners were used to

carry messages throughout the huge

empire.

Achievements

Built more than 19,000 miles of

roads.

Built canals and aqueducts (pipeline) to bring water to dry

areas.

Master builders. Masonry (stonework)

done so well that cement was not

needed to hold stone blocks in place.

Pottery, gold, silver jewelry, textiles

(thread and yarn, clothing).

No writing system. Instead used quipus (KEE-pooz). Knotted

string that represented numbers

and information.

Upper Class could relax at the royal retreat

called

Machu Picchu

MAH-choo PEEK-choo.

Machu Picchu Lost City of the Incas

Secret Ceremonial City high up in the

Andes Mts.

Pizarro Conquers the Incas

Incan Empire had been weakened by

civil war.

Atahualpa (ah-tah-WAHL-pah) – Incan king.

Francisco Pizarro - Spanish conquistador.

In 1537 Pizarro captured Atahualpa and was brought 24

tons of precious metals as ransom.

1 ton equals 2000

pounds.

2000 X 24 = 48,000

POUNDS

Killed Atahualpa

anyways.

Incan empire came

to an end.

Inca People Today