History

Early Days

        The early history of the Incas is not well known. Legend has it that brothers and sisters were sent to earth by their father the sun to rule and teach the people. The Cuzco region was occupied by a tribe or group of tribes that were the Incas ancestors of the Incas. They began expanding and ruling neighboring groups around 1200.
The Empire      
This is a picture of Macchu Picchu
         The ninth Inca ruler, Pachacuti, began the empire around 1438 when he stopped an invasion from the Chanca confederacy. The first Inca ruler to be both an able administrator and military leader was Pachacuti. He expanded the empire by conquering the region south of Cuzco. Then he rebuilt the city and making it a monument to Inca power as well  as the center of the empire. Inca social and political life was also reorganized by Pachacuti.
        The Incan empire was extended into central and northern Peru by Pachacuti and his son Topa Inca Yupanqui. The empire was expanded even more southward into western Bolivia, northern Chile and Northwest Argentina and northward into western Ecuador after Topa Inca Yupanqui became emperor. The regions of southern Columbia and the highlands of Ecuador were later unified by Huayna Capac who was the son of Topa Inca Yupanqui.
        Civil war broke out in 1527 between Huayna Capac's sons following his death. The heir to the empire was Huascar but Athualpa had charge of a large army in Ecuador. By 1532, when Athualpa finally defeated Huascar, the empire was severely weakened.

The Spanish Conquest

        Shortly after Huascar was captured by Athualpa's army in 1532 Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish explorer, arranged to meet with Athualpa in Cajamarca, Peru. When Athualpa arrived in Cajamarca he was ambushed by Pizarro and the 167   men that had accompanied him. Athualpa was captured and held for ransom. The ransom, one room filled with gold and another filled twice with silver, was paid by the emperor. Even so Athualpa was executed by the Spaniards.
        As ordered earlier by Athualpa Huascar had been imprisoned and killed. As a result the Inca had no recognized leader after Athualpa was killed. Therefore the Spaniards took over the empire very easily.

The Inca Heritage           
This is a picture of the Andes mountains

         Incan heritage is still evident today. When the Spaniards took over the empire they attempted to wipe out all Incan customs but failed to do so.
        Through the centuries the daily life of the Indians in the highlands of Peru and some other countries has remained the same. When curing the sick traditional curing ceremonies are still used by some Indians. Some of the Indians still speak Quecha also. In the highlands farming methods resemble those of the Inca.

Ancient Incan Government

Ancient Incan People

Ancient Incan Education

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