CHAPTER 26 - The Incas

The ruins of Machu Picchu

I. The Rise of the Inca Empire

A. Earlier cultures influenced the Incans1. The Moche (100 B.C.E. to 700 C.E.) used irrigation and a class system

2.The Chimu (1300’s & 1400’s) created roads and a message system using runners

B.Early Inca history cloaked in mythology1. They believed themselves to be descended from Inti, the Sun God

C.Incans settled in present-day Peru around 1200 C.E.1. Founded their capital city of Cuzco

D. Expanded their empire in 1438 after fighting off the attacking Chancas1. Emperor Yupanqui led Inca army in conquest2. By 1500’s, empire covered 350,000 square miles

3. Established a messenger system to connect the huge empire

a. Chasquis could travel 250 miles per day on the empire’s 15,000 miles of roads

b. Messages were usually recorded using quipus

II. The Class Structure of the Incans A. Three classes of people

1. The emperor (Sapa Inca) at the top

a. Believed to be direct descendant of Inti, the Sun Godb. Chooses his own

successor from among his male

children

Inti – the sun god

2.Nobles belonged to 3 categoriesa. Capacs were related to emperorb. Hahuas were considered as “Incan by privilege”c. Curacas were the leaders of the conquered peoples

3.Commoners were farmers & herders a. Grew corn, squash, peppers, beans,

peanuts, & potatoesb. Most crops were given over to the government for distribution

Artist’s image of Inca commoners making terraces

Completed terraces

III. Incan Family Life A. Families belonged to ayllus (clans)

1. Government loans land to the ayllus for communal (shared) use 2. The curacas administered the towns and villages

B. Most Incans were born into commoner families 1. Children learned tasks from elders 2. Children had no formal education

3. Teen-aged boys had to undergo rituals to enter into manhood

C. Young Incans live at home until they are married

1. They usually married within the ayllu

IV. Inca ReligionA. Incans believed in many gods, all of whom controlled nature

1. Inti, the Sun God, was the most important

B. Priests worked in temples devoted tothese gods

C. They believed that spirits lived within sacred objects and places

D. Incans offered sacrifices to please the gods

E.Priests practiced divination as a means of predicting future events1. They asked an oracle for advice on policy

F. The Chosen Women were unique to the Incan religion1. They were selected to enter a convent to study religion, prepare food for religious

ceremonies, and weave garments for the emperor

V.Relations With Other PeoplesA. Incans sought to bring others into their empire

1. Used both the threat of attack and the promise of peace and prosperity to recruit others

An Incan military fortificationIncan warriors

B. New peoples had to adopt Inca tradition1. Had to accept Incan gods in

religious practices2. Local leaders had to learn Incan

laws in Cuzco and return to their own people as curacas

C. Incas took important religious objects as “hostage” to ensure cooperation

A golden jaguar – an honored animal

D. Resistance led to harsh punishment1. Local leader might be killed2. Tribes could be exiled to distant lands

E. Expansion of the empire came from theIncan belief that the dead emperor continued to rule his own lands, so the new emperor had to acquire his own lands to rule for himself

Emperor

1. Emperor (Sapa Inca) at the topa. Believed to be direct descendant of Inti, (Sun God)b. Chooses his own successor from among his male children