Expansion of the Inca Empire

Adapting to Life in the Andes

• At what elevation might this be?

• What would the weather be like here?

• What evidence of human settlement do you see?

• What challenges might people face living here?

• How would you adapt?

Adapting to Life in the Andes

Machu Picchu

• Ancient city of the Inca

• Located in Andes, in northwest Peru

• One example among hundreds of Inca ruins

• Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911

Challenges of Life in the Empire

• Enormous – 2,500 miles in length

• Variable landscape – coastal deserts, lofty Andes mountain range, rain forests

• Climate varied from tropical to polar

• More than 6 million people!– To feed and keep happy!

Inca Agricultural Techniques

• Terraced mountains & used guano as fertilizer (bird/bat poo)

• Channeled water and diverted rivers to irrigate dry areas

• Filled & drained marshes to make farmland

• Grew corn, potatoes, quinoa (a grain) & other produce

Expansion of the Inca Empire

• How are the men dressed in this scene?

• Who are they carrying?

• Who do you think they are carrying?

Pachacuti (1438-1463)

• Had vision – use warfare to spread Inca culture

• Promised peace and gifts (backed by threats) to win

• Forced conquered people to obey Inca leaders; allowed them to keep native language, leaders, gods

Topa Inca Yupanqui (1463-1493)

• Pachacuti’s son• Ruled enormous empire• Made sure conquered people

knew they were “inferior” – collected tribute but at times was flexible to prove this point– Once accepted lice instead of

valuable tribute from a poor group

Huayna Capac (1493-1525)

• Ruled empire at its high point

• Had two sons who didn’t trust each other

• Priests favored one son; army favored the other – led to civil war

• Son backed by army won, but wars weakened empire

Inca Social & Political Organization

• What are the men wearing here?

• Who do you think is in charge?

Political Hierarchy

• Sapa Inca– Descendant of Son God– Ruled by divine right– Subjects not allowed to look him in the eye– Did not walk as a mortal – carried on a golden litter– Married to Coya (empress)

Political Hierarchy

• Nobles– Capac Incas – noble by blood– Controlled land and valuable resources– Leaders of government, army and priesthood– governors

Political Hierarchy

• Government Officials– Many levels – broken down into decimal units– At bottom were leaders from conquered

regions

Ruling a Vast Empire

• Used quipu to keep records:– Consisted of knotted strings of cotton or wool– System used to keep records of numbers of

llamas, quantities of corn or the number of days commoners worked for the government

Ruling a Vast Empire

• The empire was divided into households:– Every 10 households governed by the head of

one household who reported to heads of other households (decimal units)

– This way, Inca controlled economics of diverse communities and could easily collect taxes

Ruling a Vast Empire

• Inca laws regulated daily life– the state designated jobs for everyone– had to help with large scale projects– in addition to working their own land,

commoners worked the Inca’s fields and contributed food and cloth to state warehouses