N Ran About 2,500 Miles Along the Western Coast of South America

Inca Empire

 Almost 12 million people

 Ran about 2,500 miles along the western coast of South America

 Capital – Cuzso (City of the Sun) which was located in present-day Peru

 1400 and 1500s

 Had large reserves of gold and silver

Inca Civilization

 Worshipped many gods

 God of the sun was the most important to the Inca

 Organized society with a network of about 14,000 miles of roads

 Had runners who carried messages throughout the empire

 Built rope bridges over rivers and canyons

Ancient Ruins

 Known for many great architectural achievements including stone roads and huge stone buildings

 Many of these ancient ruins are still around today and are important tourist attractions

Accomplishments

 Built terraces or steps into the side of the hills so they could farm on mountainous land

 Created irrigation canals to bring water to their crops

 Well known for skillfully made textiles

 Had a system for mathematics and accounting

 Known for artwork made from gold, silver, and bronze pieces

Atahualpa

 Inca emperor when the Spanish arrived in South America

 Named the Sapa Inca and many Inca believed him to be the a relative of the sun god

 Carried around on a gold chair, ate from gold plates and cups, and had rooms with walls made of gold in his palace  Kidnapped and later executed by Pizarro’s men in 1533

Francisco Pizarro

 Conquistador who claimed the Inca land for Spain

 Searching for gold and silver

 Made the viceroy (governor) of the conquered land

 Founded the city of Lima, Peru and built himself a palace there

 Killed in 1541 by fellow Spanish countrymen who were jealous of his wealth

Defeat of the Inca

 The outbreak of smallpox weakened the Incas

 Advanced weapons of the Spanish were too much for the Inca warriors

 Spanish sent more and more settlers to the area to colonize the land and mine for gold and silver

 For nearly 300 years Spain ruled the lands once held by the Inca