The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America and perhaps the largest empire in the world, dating back to the early 16th century.
Its political structure was the most complex among all the indigenous peoples of the North and South America.
The administrative, political and military center of the empire was in Cuzco (modern Peru).
The Inca civilization arose in the highlands of Peru in the early 13th century. The last fortress was conquered by the Spaniards in 1572.
From 1438 to 1533, the Incas inhabited much of western South America, centered on the Andes Mountains. At its peak, the Inca Empire included Ecuador, western and central Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, northern and central Chile, and parts of southwestern Colombia.
The official language was Quechua. There were many forms of god worship throughout the empire, but the rulers encouraged the worship of Inti, the supreme god of the Incas.
The Incas considered their king, Sapa Inca, the “son of the sun.”
The Inca Empire was unique in that it had none of the things that the civilizations of the Old World were famous for.
For example, the residents did not have wheeled Vehicle, cattle, they also lacked knowledge about the extraction and processing of iron and steel, and the Incas did not have a structured writing system.
Characteristic of the Inca Empire were monumental architecture, a road system covering all corners of the empire and a special style of weaving.
Scholars believe that the Inca economy was feudal, slave, and socialist at the same time. It is believed that the Incas did not have money or markets. Instead, residents exchanged goods and services using barter.
Human labor itself for the benefit of the empire (for example, growing crops) was considered a kind of tax. The Inca rulers, in turn, supported the work of the people and organized large-scale feasts for their subjects on holidays.
The name "Inca" translates as "ruler", "lord". In Quechua, the term is used to refer to the ruling class or ruling family.
The Incas made up a small percentage of the empire's total inhabitants (between 15,000 and 40,000 people out of a total population of 10 million). The Spaniards began to use the term “Inca” to refer to all inhabitants of the empire.
Story
The Inca Empire was the leading civilization in the Andes, with a history stretching back thousands of years. The Andean civilization is one of five civilizations in the world that scientists call “primordial,” that is, indigenous and not derived from other civilizations.
The Inca Empire was preceded by two large empires in the Andes: Tiwanaku (ca. 300-1100 AD), located around Lake Titicaca, and Huari (ca. 600-1100 AD), centered near modern city Ayacucho.
Huari was located in Cuzco for about 400 years.
According to the legends of the Incas, their ancestors emerged from three caves: brothers and sisters who came to new lands over time built a temple of stone and began to populate the lands around them. Soon they reached Cusco and began to build their homes throughout the territory.
The empire expanded. Aiyara Manco is considered its founder.
The rulers of the empire changed quite often. Many people wanted to reign over large territories. However, by the time the conquistadors arrived on the lands of the Incas, all tribes united in a single desire to maintain their independence.
The Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro and his brothers, reached the treasured lands of the Incas by 1525. In 1529, the king of Spain gave permission to conquer rich lands in the Americas.
European military forces invaded the Inca lands in 1532, when the population was demoralized by another war for control of the empire.
At the same time, smallpox was rampant in Central America, which caused the death of a large number of the local population.
European soldiers under the leadership of Pizarro invaded the lands of the Incas and, having technological superiority over the “semi-wild” Incas, quickly gained power over the territories (the Spaniards also found allies who were negatively opposed to the policies of the Inca emperors).
The conquistadors introduced the Christian faith in the region, plundered the houses of the inhabitants and installed their governor at the head of the empire. And in 1536, the last Inca fortress was destroyed, the emperor was overthrown, and the Spaniards gained power over the entire territory of the huge empire.
Population and language
The number of people inhabiting the empire during its heyday is not known for certain. Historians give figures from 4 to 37 million.
The main form of communication in the empire was the Inca language, as well as various dialects of Quechua.
Phonetically, the languages differed greatly: Andeans may not understand the population living next to Colombia.
Some languages survive to this day (for example, the Aymara language, which is spoken by some Bolivians to this day). The influence of the Incas outlived their empire, as the conquering Spaniards continued to use the Quechua language for communication.
Culture and life
Archaeologists still find unique objects related to the life and way of life of the Incas.
Architecture was the most sought after art in the empire. The most important structures were created from stone (using special masonry).
Historians also find evidence that the Incas were interested in weaving, as well as sciences: mathematics, chronology in principle, medicine, etc.
The Incas' discoveries in some areas became the foundation for the development of scientific thought throughout the world (especially in Europe).
In the western half of South America, below the equator, on the vast plains between the Andes, lived an industrious people who created a large civilized empire. Its kings, called Incas, were descended from the sun. It was said that, taking pity on the miserable life of the savages of the country of Peru, the sun sent his children Manco Capaka and his sister, who was also his wife, to gather them into a comfortable society, teach them agriculture, the art of spinning and weaving, and other crafts necessary for a comfortable life.
The first parts of the country to which education was introduced by Manco Capac and his sister were the environs of Lake Titicaca, on the islands of which colossal temples of the sun and moon later stood, surrounded by sacred maize fields. The Inca people went to these temples on pilgrimage. To the north stood in the beautiful Andean valley the sacred city of Cusco, protected by surprisingly strong walls. It was the capital of the Inca king; it housed a magnificent temple of the sun, where pious Peruvians from all over the kingdom also came to worship. Like the Aztecs, the inhabitants of Peru did not know iron, but they knew how to build huge stone buildings. These were government buildings. The king called the people to build them. The mass of the population was enslaved by the aristocracy, whose members, actually called Incas, were considered to belong to the same clan. The head of this family was the king, whose rank was inherited by the eldest son or, if there were no sons, then to the closest relative, whose father and mother were people of the royal family.
The growth of the Inca Empire during the reigns of its various sovereigns
Inca kings
The Inca kings, sons of the sun, were considered sacred. They had unlimited power, appointed all rulers and judges, established taxes and laws, were high priests and commanders in chief. The nobles, the highest rank of which were the Incas, members of the royal family, observed forms of special reverence in relations with the king. The Peruvian aristocracy had a ritual similar to knighthood: a young man of noble birth knelt before the king; the king pierced his ear with a golden needle. On special occasions, the Inca king appeared to the people in magnificent clothes, woven from delicate vicuña wool, decorated with gold and expensive stones. He traveled frequently throughout the state; he was carried in a rich palanquin; he was accompanied by a numerous brilliant retinue.
In all areas of the state, the kings had magnificent palaces. Their favorite residence was Yucay, a rural palace in a picturesque valley near Cusco. When the Inca king "went to his father's dwelling," the entire population of the empire observed established forms of mourning. Precious vessels and expensive attire were placed in the king’s tomb, and his beloved servants and concubines were sacrificed on his coffin; the number of these victims is said to have reached several thousand people. Expensive things were also placed in the coffins of nobles; At their funerals, wives and servants were also sacrificed.
Social structure of the Inca Empire
All land of the Peruvian Empire was considered the property of the Incas. It was divided among people of all classes; the size of the plots was commensurate with the needs of the class, but only the lower class cultivated the land. In those villages that belonged directly to the government, a third share of all agricultural and industrial products belonged to the king and his family; the other third went to the maintenance of churches and numerous clergy; the remaining third was divided annually in each rural community among householders in proportion to the number of souls in the family. Agriculture was under the patronage of the king. Products of agriculture and industry, including fine textiles made from vicuña wool, were stored in the royal stores and distributed as needed.
Taxes and duties in kind lay only on the commoners; the nobility and clergy were free from them. The commoner in the Inca Empire was obliged to work like a working animal, to properly perform the work assigned to him, without thereby improving his position, but was provided for from want. The people worked diligently under the supervision of overseers, the land was excellently cultivated, the mines delivered a lot of silver and gold; Bridges and stone roads were built along the main roads. Many of these structures were enormous; roads were carefully repaired; all areas of the state were connected by them with Cusco; mail went through them.
Inca city Machu Picchu
Inca conquests
The Inca Empire was peaceful. Its kings did not forget to take care of the good organization of the army, but they loved to conquer neighboring tribes not with weapons, but with the influence of civilization, industry, and through persuasion; in cases where they made conquests, they treated the conquered mercifully. The purpose of the conquests was to spread Peruvian worship and social order. Temples of the sun were built in the conquered areas; Numerous clergy settled at the temples; the land was divided into plots, the Peruvian work order was introduced; the crude dialects of the conquered were gradually replaced by the language of the Incas. In those areas whose population stubbornly resisted this influence, numerous Inca colonies were founded, and the former inhabitants moved en masse to other areas.
Scientists called amauta, were in charge of schools and kept chronicles of events using a special method of “knot writing” called pile. The tribes that lived near the initially small kingdom of the Incas were once hostile to it, but little by little they merged with the Peruvians into one people, having mastered the Peruvian language and submitting to the orders introduced among them by the Incas.
Sample of "knot letter" quipu
Serving the sun
The service of the sun in the Inca Empire was magnificent and almost completely pure from human sacrifice; they were produced only occasionally and in small quantities. Usually only animals, fruits, flowers, and incense were brought to the sun. Cannibalism disappeared among the Peruvians. Their main food was maize, bananas and cassava; They prepared an intoxicating drink from young maize trunks, which they loved very much. Another favorite pleasure of theirs was chewing coca leaves, which produce an effect similar to opium.
In the temples of the sun, an eternal sacred fire burned, which was maintained by the virgins of the sun, who lived like nuns. There were a lot of them. Some of them received the honor of becoming one of the wives of the Inca king. The king and nobles were allowed polygamy; but it seems that only one wife was considered legitimate.
The Inca Empire before the Spaniards
Such was the Inca Empire when the Spaniards, led by Pizarro, arrived to enslave him. They marveled at the carefully cultivated fields of the Peruvians, the beautiful products of their industry, the well-built houses, which usually had only one floor to prevent damage from earthquakes, but were spacious and comfortable; they marveled at the huge magnificent temples, the strong walls of the fortresses; They saw a hardworking, self-controlled people, meekly obeying the laws, which were considered the decrees of the deity.
The theocratic structure gave the state the character of an organism in which everything happens according to the law of necessity; every Peruvian was assigned his place in one caste or another, and he remained in it with submission to fate. Commoners lived according to the rules imposed on them by the higher castes, but for their lack of freedom they were rewarded with security from want.
Origin and history of the Inca tribe
During the Late Intermediate Period (1000–1483), small tribes—predecessors of the Incas—lived in the Cuzco region. The Incas were just one of many local population groups. Although information about the chronology and development of the Cusco region is incomplete, some of the major stages of Peruvian archeology can be recognized in the styles of local pottery. Evidence of Huari influence has been found in the very south of the valley, at Piquillact, approximately 30 kilometers south of Cusco. However, there are no traces of Huari architecture or pottery in the area of Cusco itself. It is assumed that in the middle horizon it was not constantly inhabited. The main style of pottery common in the period preceding the Inca Empire is generally called sprat, and varieties of this style are found everywhere between San Pedro de Cacha and Machu Picchu. The local origin of the Incas is demonstrated by the fact that the sprat style is akin to the characteristic style of the Incas during their imperial period.
Partially preserved structures have been found on the hills - settlements of the Late Intermediate Period, in which some attempt to adhere to a general plan can be seen. This period is characterized by round and square buildings, not very similar to the houses of Piquillacta. The Spanish conquerors heard from the Incas that before they became dominant, the peoples of the sierra (mountains) were very diverse and disorganized and settled in inaccessible places because they were constantly at war with each other.
Written accounts of the early period of Inca rule - approximately between 1200 and 1438. – represent very unreliable historical evidence. This period covers the time from the founding of the Inca dynasty until 1438, when the Inca Empire was already the most significant state in the Andes.
Origin myths say that the Incas originally consisted of three original clan groups united under the leadership of Manco Capac, the legendary founder of the dynasty. These myths tell how the Incas searched for fertile land and found it in the Cusco Valley and how they settled on this land.
Upon arrival in Cuzco, the Incas encountered resistance and were forced to settle nearby until they retook the site where they later built the famous Temple of the Sun, Qoricancha. The power of Manco Capac extended only to the indigenous natives of the area of \u200b\u200bCuzco. The second and third Inca leaders after him, Sinchi Roca and Lloque Yupanqui, had a reputation for peace, while the fourth, Maita Capac, aroused hostility towards himself, and as a result, an uprising arose among the inhabitants of Cuzco itself.
The fifth, sixth and seventh Inca chiefs captured small territories in the surrounding areas. During this early period, neither the Incas nor their neighbors carried out organized conquests, but periodically raided neighboring villages when there was a danger that their inhabitants would begin to assert their rights, or when they seemed to have something to plunder.
Inca Viracocha, eighth ruler of the Inca dynasty, was the first to assume the title Sapa Inca(The One, or Supreme Inca). He put an end to local conquests, forming a relatively small but powerful state. At the end of his reign, a situation was created that was critical for the Incas, since the Cuzco region was threatened from three sides. In the south, the tribes were strong opponents stakes And lupaka, but they were at enmity with each other, and the Incas could focus their attention on the west and northwest, where the tribes lived Quechua And chunka. The Incas were on friendly terms with the Quechua, a powerful people who acted as a buffer between the Incas and the formidable Chanca tribe. It became increasingly stronger and had already captured the province of Andahuaillas, which had previously been occupied by the Quechuas, settling on its territory. Anticipating an inevitable clash in the future with the powerful Chancas, Inca Viracocha strengthened the position of his people by marrying the daughter of the tribal leader anta, closest neighbors in the northwest, and entering into an alliance with the Quechua.
When the Chancas reached the Incas, Viracocha was already an old man, and the people had a strong belief in the invincibility of the Chancas. Viracocha and his heir, Inca Urcon, apparently simply fled from Cuzco along with their retinue. However, the situation was saved by another group of Inca nobles and warlords, led by Yupanqui, another son of Inca Viracocha, who gathered as many warriors as he could under his banner and successfully defended Cuzco. The Chanca were then defeated in a series of battles, and it turned out that the Incas had won the power struggle and began to reign supreme in the mountains. After these events, Viracocha found himself out of work, and Yupanqui was proclaimed Pachacuti. He retained power and was crowned ruler of the Incas.
The Late Incan or Imperial period began with the reign of the Inca Pachacuti Yupanqui in 1438 and ended with the Spanish conquest in 1532. The history of the Incas of this period is much more reliable than the previous one. There is quite reliable information about the reign of the Inca rulers and about the military expansion of the empire, which spread throughout the entire territory of the Andes (see Fig. 3).
Rice. 3. Territory of the Inca Empire, showing areas annexed as a result of the wars of the late Inca period (according to J. Rove)
Inca Pachacuti consolidated previous conquests and new alliances by allocating lands near Cuzco to new subjects and giving them the opportunity to participate in the newly created administrative structure of Cuzco with the right to call themselves Incas. He then set about devising reforms that would integrate the new provinces into the growing state.
The Inca ruler began a military campaign to annex the tribe's lands urubamba, located to the west of the Quechua and Chanca territories, and southern lands up to Lake Titicaca. Having achieved military success, but realizing the urgent need to create a new effective system of government, Inca Pachacuti considered it beneficial to remain permanently in the capital, transferring command of the troops to his brother Capac Yupanqui, who was ordered to move north and conquer territories within clearly defined and limited limits - apparently up to Huanuco himself. Complications arose after a successful campaign when the Chanca Indians whom Inca Pachacuti had accepted into his army deserted near Huanuco. Pursuing the Chanca, Capac Yupanqui crossed strictly defined boundaries, lost fugitives, and then - probably hoping to return the favor of the Inca Pachacuti - attacked and captured Cajamarca, the most powerful possession in northern mountains. Leaving a small garrison there, Capac Yupanqui returned to Cuzco and was executed here - for exceeding his authority and for allowing the Chanca to leave.
The cruel punishment that befell Capac Yupanqui will become clearer if you look at the situation from the point of view of the Inca Pachacuti. Cajamarca was an important province and allied with the coastal state of Chimu, growing, powerful and extremely well organized - it represented the only obstacle to the Incan expansion to the north. At that time, Pachacuti was not ready to fight the entire Chimu army and therefore feared their possible attack on the small garrison left in the prematurely captured Cajamarca. In addition, Capac Yupanqui, due to his obvious success, could arouse the jealousy of Inca Pachacuti.
Inca Pachacuti had to first go out on a personal campaign to suppress the uprising in the south, in the Lake Titicaca basin, before he could again turn his attention to the north. By his will, Inca Topa, his son and heir, led the army and led it on a campaign across the highlands as far as Quito. Then, having reached the coast of what is now Ecuador, Inca Topa turned his army south, approaching the Chimu country from where they least expected him. He successfully conquered the entire northern and central coast as far as the Lurin Valley. Shortly after this great campaign, Inca Topa launched another to subdue the valleys south coast from Nazca to Mala. While Inca Topa expanded his empire, Inca Pachacuti remained in Cuzco, establishing an administrative structure and rebuilding Cuzco into a capital befitting the imperial scale.
Inca Topa became ruler around 1471. He had just begun his campaign in the eastern forests when stakes And lupaka raised an uprising in the south - a serious threat that had to be dealt with as quickly as possible. After successfully suppressing the rebellion, the Inca occupied the territory of Bolivia and Chile, penetrating as far south as the Maule River, which from then on remained the southern border of the empire.
After the completion of the eastern expedition, Inca Topa, like his father, settled thoroughly in Cuzco, becoming closely involved in the formation of an empire, rebuilding and making more flexible administrative policies to suit the many new tribes and provinces now united under one rule. Perhaps it was this Inca who expanded the Inca conceptual system at the expense of some Chimu ideas, since it was he who convinced many noble people and Chimu artisans to move to Cuzco.
Inca Topa died in 1493 and was succeeded by his son Huayna Capac. This Inca suppressed several uprisings and annexed new lands to the empire. chachapoyas And myobamba, as well as the area north of Quito, where he established border markers along the Ancamayo River (today's border between Ecuador and Colombia). His achievement also included the full integration of the territory of Ecuador into the empire and the construction of new cities like Tomebamba, where he himself lived for a long time. Before his death in this city - he died suddenly from the plague - Huayna Capac learned that some strange bearded people had been seen on the coast (this was Pizarro's first expedition).
During the five years that remained of the Inca Empire, Huayna Capac's two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar, fought a civil war for power. Atahualpa won the war and was just preparing for his official coronation when the Spanish reappeared in 1532 (see Chapter 10).
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There are very few sources of information regarding the history of the Incas, an ancient Indian civilization. Most of information comes from Spanish conquistadors and missionaries. Filippo Huaman Poma De Ayaalo, an Inca artist of the 16th century, left one original and priceless document - these are drawings and chronicles that give detailed description Inca society. Realizing that his world could disappear, Huaman Poma described all its splendor. This was his life's work. He intended to give it to King Philip II, in the hope that the monarch would see his colony in a different light and change his attitude towards it.
In his work, he also described the way of life of the Andean peoples before the arrival of the Incas - the Indians led a harsh and difficult lifestyle, they were practically savages. But everything changed with the appearance of a creature who was half-man, half-god - the son of Inti, the son of God. His name is Manco Capac. He called himself “Inca” and brought civilization to his world.
He taught people to build cities and cultivate the land. Under his leadership, the Inca world began to flourish. His wife Manco Capacá Ocllo taught the women how to weave.
This was the world of the Incas, where one name belonged to both the ruler and his people.
100 years after the formation of the Inca Empire, in the 15th century, this state, located on the territory of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, ceased to exist. However, more on this a little later... The article will talk about who the Incas were.
The Birth of Civilization
According to legend, the sun god Inti created the ancestors of the Inca rulers. These were 4 brothers and 4 sisters who came out of the Tampa Tokko cave. Their leader was Aiyar Manko, who carried a golden staff in his hands. He had to find a place where the staff would enter the ground, which would be a sign of fertile soil.
After long wanderings, Aiyar Manco and his brothers and sisters came to the valley of Cuzco, where the staff finally entered the ground.
Defeating the warlike local residents, the siblings founded the capital of the Inca Empire. Ayar Manco began to call himself Manco Capac, which means “ruler of the Incas.” He became the first Sappa Inka (paramount chief).
Was everything exactly like that?
Ethnologists at the National Center for Scientific Research are not entirely sure of the historical existence of the first eight Incas. Rather, they were mythical characters. Due to the fact that all currently available information about the Incas is closely related to their epic.
Each family of Inca rulers had its own traditions, similar to African ones. Each generation of rulers told history in their own way.
A significant period in the history of the Incas is associated with the ruler Pachacuti. Among other things, he was the greatest religious reformer. During his reign, the Inca people became much less dependent on the high priests of the solar religion.
Pachacuti time
In the 12th century, the Andes were inhabited by a huge number of different peoples and tribes constantly warring with each other. Pachacuti wanted to create an empire that would unite all the Andean peoples. His name, which means “world changer,” perfectly describes his aspirations.
He united the tribes around the city of Cusco and his goals became a reality.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the Inca Empire was subjected to an armed attack by the Chanca tribe. The city of Cusco is under threat. Pachacuti took command of the army and managed to repel the attack and, inspired by the victory, began military expansion.
Pachacuti captured territory in the area of Lake Titicaca and expanded the possessions of the Inca Empire of Tahuantinsuyu in the North up to the Cojamarca region.
A few words about the way of life
Briefly, the culture of the Incas reflects their life. When the Incas enslaved peoples, they presented local rulers with special gifts - women and various wonders. Thus, they made him somewhat grateful, left him in debt. In exchange for these gifts, the leaders had to pay tribute to the Incas or perform various types of work for them. From that moment on, they entered into a relationship that is historically called vassalage. This could be forced labor, called "mita", or unequal exchange, called "aine".
This system of relationships with the captured tribes became one of the main aspects of the power of the Incas.
The creation of an orderly system on such a wide scale in the territory of one of the largest mountain ranges planet - was not an easy task. The Incas needed to create collective labor, trade, a management system and ensure security. All this would have been impossible without the construction of roads.
There is no doubt that the Incas already knew what a wheel was. However, mountainous landscapes were not suitable for the use of wheeled vehicles. Even today, most travel in the Andes is done on foot. But the Incas conquered Mountain peaks, creating a developed network of communication routes. They built bridges in a world that literally hung between heaven and earth.
A few words about the reign of Sappa Inca
The power of the Incas, like any other power, required influence on the consciousness of people. And the majestic city of Machu Picchu, according to ethnologists, is only part of the image of power. For example, the ruler could not be looked at in the face. His image has always been associated with sacred rituals. He was revered as the son of the Sun and was a real shrine for the people.
The power of the ruler was perpetuated after his death, when he joined all the gods and himself became a God. The Huamana Poma Chronicles describe the Incas' understanding of life after death. They believed that human life force does not disappear after death. In their minds, the ancestors could protect those living on earth.
Capital of the Empire
In the heart of the Andes, at an altitude of more than 3 thousand meters, was the city of Cusco - the capital of the Inca Empire. In 1534 it was practically wiped off the face of the earth by Spanish invaders. The city of Cusco is the political and spiritual center of the Inca Empire.
In addition to Cusco, there were several administrative centers; there were not many cities in the Inca Empire. Most of the territory is small villages where the Incas lived and worked on plantations. Agriculture was the centerpiece of their economy.
Rituals
To understand who the Incas were, it is worth turning to their epic.
In the chronicles of Mana Poma, one of the chapters is devoted to a rather strange ritual - capacocha. During certain events, such as solar eclipses, volcanic eruptions, or epidemics, children were sacrificed to earn the favor of the spirits. It also happened that these were the children of tribal leaders.
The capacocha was an important part of the political and religious cult in Cusco.
Counting system
Although the Incas did not have a written language, they used a system of knots and cords called a quipu to record numbers and possibly other information. Thanks to the decimal system, taxation of subjects was orderly and efficient.
Taxes in the form of food were collected throughout the empire and collected in kolpos. This system provided the population with acceptable living conditions and was an important aspect in controlling the economy of the empire.
They lived at high altitudes, where every 5-6 years there might not be a harvest, so they simply needed to stock up.
In return, the empire provided security, maintained infrastructure, and provided residents with a means of subsistence. For this purpose, large warehouses with essential goods were built everywhere. Such kolpos existed in every region.
Now let's get back to the division of land
Pochacuti's son, Tupac Inca, continued to conquer new territories and became ruler in 1471. By the end of his reign, the empire extended throughout Western South America. He showed the inhabitants of neighboring tribes who the Incas were.
In 1493, the ruler was replaced by his son Huayna Capac. The wars of the new ruler on distant frontiers increased the level of discontent in the empire.
In 1502, having won a victory in civil war, Atahualpa's army faced invaders from Europe. And although the Incas outnumbered the Europeans, Francisco Pizarro, with a small contingent of conquistadors, completely defeated their huge army. With the help of guns and horses, which the Incas had never seen before, the Spaniards were victorious. Atahualpa was captured and killed a year later.
However, according to historians, this is not the only reason for the fall of the empire. At that time, it was in the process of fragmentation and war, which was the main reason for the collapse.
The great rise of the Inca Empire was almost as fleeting as its fall. And now, unfortunately, we can find out who the Incas were from the few sources that have survived to this day.
The Incas(Inca) - a tribe from the Cuzco Valley, whose powerful civilization existed in the “pre-Columbian” era on the South American continent. The Incas managed to create powerful empire, which changed its appearance and conquered many nations.
The Incas themselves called their empire Tawantinsuyu(Four cardinal directions) because there were 4 roads leading out of Cusco in different directions.
The Indians called their ruler Inka, which means “lord”, “king”. Then “Inca” began to be called all representatives of the ruling class, and with the invasion of the conquerors - the entire Indian population of the Tawantinsuyu empire.
Creation of the Great Inca Empire
Thanks to archaeological finds, it is obvious that the Inca civilization arose in 1200-1300. At the end of the 11th century, due to the drought that had been raging in the Andes for more than 100 years, neighboring, stronger tribes lost their power in fights for water and food.
Inspired by success, the Inca rulers turned their gaze to the abundant land - a spacious plateau with. And Pachacutec-Inca-Yupanqui, one of the great rulers of the Incas, undertook a military campaign to the south in the 15th century.
The population of the lakeside states was about 400 thousand people. The mountain slopes are riddled with gold and silver veins, and fat herds of llamas and alpacas grazed in the flowering meadows. Llamas and alpacas are meat, wool and leather, that is, military rations and uniforms.
Pachacutec conquered the southern rulers one after another, expanding the boundaries of his possessions, which became one of the largest empires on the planet. The number of subjects of the empire reached about 10 million people.
Victories in the military field were only the first stage on the path to power; after the warriors, officials, builders and artisans got down to business.
Incas: Wise Rule
If an uprising broke out in some Inca province, the rulers undertook the resettlement of people: they resettled residents of remote villages to new cities located near the built roads. They were ordered to build warehouses along the roads for regular troops, which were filled by their subjects with the necessary provisions. The Inca rulers were brilliant organizers.
The Inca civilization reached an unprecedented peak. Stonemasons erected architectural masterpieces, engineers turned isolated roads into a single system connecting all parts of the empire. Irrigation canals were created, agricultural terraces were laid out on the mountain slopes, about 70 types of crops were grown there and significant reserves of provisions were stored in storage facilities. The governors were excellent at taking inventory: they were aware of the contents of each repository of the vast empire, keeping records using a kippah - an analogue of the Incas' computer code - bundles of multi-colored threads with special combinations of knots.
The Inca rulers were quite harsh, but fair: they allowed the conquered peoples to preserve their traditions. The main social unit was the family. Each group of 20 families had a leader who was subordinate to a superior, who already headed 50 families, and so on - until the Inca Ruler.
Social structure of civilization
The Inca Empire had such a social structure: everyone worked here, with the exception of the youngest and very old people. Each family had its own cultivated plot of land. People weaved, sewed clothes, shoes or sandals, made dishes and jewelry from gold and silver.
The inhabitants of the empire had no personal freedom; the rulers decided everything for them: what to eat, what clothes to wear and where to work. The Incas were remarkable farmers; they built grandiose aqueducts to irrigate fields with water from mountain rivers, growing many valuable crops.
Many buildings erected by the Incas still stand today. The Incas created many original bridges from willow twigs and vines twisted into thick ropes. The Incas were natural potters and weavers:
They wove the finest fabrics from cotton, such that the Spaniards considered them silk. The Incas also knew how to spin wool, making beautiful and warm woolen clothes.
Mummy - ruler of the Incas
In the middle of the 15th century, Huayna Capac, the new ruler of the Incas, ascended the throne. Then it seemed that the Inca dynasty was all-powerful. People could even change nature in incredible ways: during the construction of Huayna Capac's residence, workers leveled the hills, drained the swamps, and moved the riverbed (Spanish: Rio Urubamba) to southern part valleys to plant cotton, corn, chili peppers and peanuts, and in the center of the “new” territory to build a palace of brick and stone - Quispiguanca.
Around 1527, Huayna Capac died of an unknown illness. Those close to him mummified the body and transported it to Cusco, and the members royal family they visited the deceased, asking for advice and listening to the answers uttered by the oracle sitting next to them. Even after his death, Huayna Capac remained the owner of the Quispiguanca estate. The entire harvest from the fields was used to maintain the mummy of the ruler, his wives, descendants and servants in luxury.
The traditions of inheritance among the Incas were such that even after the death of the rulers, all the palaces remained their property. Therefore, each Inca, as soon as he ascended the throne, began the construction of a new city palace and country residence. Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of up to a dozen royal residences, built for at least six rulers.
Inca - Spanish Conquest
In 1532, a detachment of 200 foreign conquerors under the leadership landed on the coast of what is now Peru. They were wearing steel armor and armed with firearms. Along the way, those dissatisfied with the dominance of the Incas joined the army. The Incas stubbornly resisted the conquerors, but the empire was weakened by internecine war and the fact that a large number of Incas warriors died from smallpox and measles brought by the Spaniards.
The Spaniards reached the northern city of Cajamarca, executed the ruler, placing their puppet on the throne.
Cusco, the capital of the Incas, was conquered by the Spanish in 1536. The invaders appropriated palaces, flourishing country estates, women and girls from the royal family. When the last Inca ruler was beheaded in 1572, it marked the end of the Tahuantinsuyu Empire. The Inca culture was destroyed, the state was plundered. The extensive network of roads, temples and palaces gradually fell into disrepair.
