The Inca Empire

The Incas ruled a great empire in South America - but only for a short time. At its peak the Incas Empire lasted less than a century before it was destroyed by the Spaniards.

In about 1300 the Incas founded their capital city of Cuzco. They were only a small tribe but they came to rule a vast empire including most of Peru and parts of Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and northwest Argentina. The expansion began in 1438 under their ruler Pachakuti and continued under his successors.

Inca Life

Inca Society

At the top of Inca society was the emperor, the Sapa Inca. (His title means unique Inca). The Incas believed their ruler was descended from the sun god and he was treated with great respect.

Below the Sapa Inca were the nobles. At the bottom of Inca society were the craftsmen and farmers.

Inca craftsmen made objects of gold, silver and copper. Stonemasons cut stone bricks for building using stone hammers and wet sand for polishing. Inca stone bricks fitted so closely they did not need mortar to hold them together.

Inca Government

To help rule their vast empire the Incas created an efficient network of roads. The Incas also made rope suspension bridges. As well as the roads the Incas had messengers called chasquis. Messages were carried by relay. Groups of messengers lived in houses by main roads and at all times two of them kept lookout. If they saw another messenger approaching one of them would run to meet him. The two messengers would run together for a while and the message was passed on from one man to the other. Using this relay system messages could be sent over long distances very quickly. Inca messengers could take messages 240 kilometers in one day.

Furthermore although they never invented writing the Incas kept records with a device called a quipu. It was a cord with strings of different thickness and colors hanging from it. Knots were tied at different positions in the strings. The color and thickness of the strings and the positions of the knots all meant something.

The Incas did not have prisons. Instead for serious crimes such as murder, stealing and blasphemy offenders were executed by being pushed off a cliff. Less serious crimes were punished by cutting off the hands or blinding.

Inca Religion

The Incas worshiped several different gods. The most important god was Inti, the sun god. The Incas also worshiped Quilla the moon goddess, wife of the sun. They also worshiped Illapa god of thunder, who controlled the rain.

The Incas sometimes practiced human sacrifice but it was rare.

Inca Warfare

Incas knew of the bow and arrow but they relied mainly on the sling and stone. It is a surprisingly accurate and deadly weapon.

Incas did not have swords but in hand to hand fighting they used wooden clubs tipped with stone or bronze.

When the Incas killed their enemies they sometimes covered their skulls with gold and used them as drinking cups. They also made dead enemies teeth into necklaces and even made drums from human skin. Inca Food

In the lowlands the staple food was maize. In the highlands it was potatoes. Incas also ate peppers, tomatoes and avocados. They also ate peanuts and a grain called quinoa.

Llamas and alpacas were kept for wool and for carrying loads but they sometimes provided meat. Incas also ate guinea pigs. They also fished and ate birds. However for most Incas meat was a luxury.

Inca Houses

Inca houses were very simple. They often consisted of just one room (although some houses did have an upper story with a wooden floor). Inca homes did not have furniture. People sat and slept on reed mats or animal skins.

Rich Incas, of course, lived in much grander homes. Inca palaces sometimes had sunken stone baths.

Inca Children

Inca children were treated harshly to toughen them. They were severely punished if they misbehaved.

Some girls were taken from their families and sent to a house of chosen women. They were taught the Inca religion and skills like cooking and weaving. When they were about 14 some of them either became priestesses or got married.

Boys learned farming, fishing and other trades.