The Inca Empire

They lived in the Andes Mountains in South America. They lived from 1400’s C.E. until 1532 when the Incas were conquered by the Spanish.

Inca Messengers• The Inca Empire covered

2,500 miles.• Used runners called

chaquis to give messages to people in different places.

• Would travel up to 250 miles a day!

• When you were running, you would find another messenger who would give you a string with knots in it. – Knots helped you to

remember numbers, and messages.

• Incas had no writing system, so these messages helped them keep track of important records

Where did the Civilization come from?

• Influenced by the Moche and Chimu civilizations of Peru

• These ancient people built great cities, roads, and developed the message system

Legend of the Incas• Capital city is called

Cuzco. It is in the valley of Peru.

• It is believed that the Incans came from the Sun God Inti

• He commanded his son to rise out of Lake Titicaca. His son then became the ruler of the Incas.

Empire ExpandsEmpire Expands• Although the empire expanded, and

the Incas conquered more land, they were attacked by the Chancas. (Neighboring tribe)

• Another legend says that the stones on the earth turned to warriors, and this was how the Incas were able to defeat their attackers.

Social Classes• TOP =EMPEROR

– Named Sapa Inca, was god-like

– Sat upon a gold litter, and was carried by servants

– Against the law to look him in the eyes

• MIDDLE=NOBLES– Helped run government– Controlled land,

resources, taxes• BOTTOM=FARMERS

– Majority of society– Farmed, built roads

Family Life• Families belonged to

ayllus (groups) they lived with

• Worked within a communal land of area where they produced crops

• Each family member had different responsibilities– Some dug ditches,

others planted• WORKED AS A UNIT!

Young People• If you were a commoner,

you had no formal education, instead you learned skills.

• If you were rich, you had a tutor who taught you religion, geometry, public speaking, and physical education!

• At 15, boys went through a rite of passage. They wore loincloths and had to pass month long tests of courage. Once they had proven themselves, they became warriors.

Religious Beliefs• Believed spirits lived in

sacred objects and places. (Huacas: temples, charms, nature, tombs)

• Had many priests to perform religious ceremonies

• Rarely sacrificed humans (Only on sacred occasions or during natural disasters.)

• Sacrificed children because their blood was believed to be pure

Relations with Other People• Incas did not always resort to war when they

encountered other groups of people in their expanding empire. They tried to meet with the tribe.

• They tried to compromise, and if the group did not want to be part of the empire, then war was declared.

• It was believed that the Incas tried to conquer so much land because they believed their leaders would rule the area in the afterlife.