Inca Civilization

Introduction

- The Inca civilization originated in the Andean highlands of Peru around the 12 th century.
- According to Inca mythology, it was founded by Manco Cápac.
- They established Cuzco as their capital and developed advanced agricultural techniques in rugged
terrain.

Expansion of the Empire

- The Inca Empire expanded rapidly in the 15th and early 16th centuries under leaders like Pachacuti
and Túpac Yupanqui.
- Diplomacy: Integrated other tribes through alliances and peaceful incorporation.
- Military Conquest: Used large, disciplined armies to overpower enemies.
- Integration: Conquered people adopted Quechua and contributed to the empire through the mit’a
labor system.

Decline and End

- Internal conflict weakened the empire, particularly the civil war between Atahualpa and Huáscar.
- Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in 1532, capturing and executing Atahualpa.
- The empire officially ended in 1572 with the fall of Vilcabamba and the execution of Túpac Amaru.

Agriculture in the Incan Civilization

- The Inca mastered the art of terraced farming.

- They developed an irrigation system to cultivate their crops.
- They had surplus food production, which helped them sustain their growing population.

Incan Architecture

- They built roads, temples, and fortresses using massive stones.

- They left behind an architectural legacy with their fortress “Machu Picchu,” which served as a royal
retreat and religious center.

Map of Inca Roads:

- Shows main Inca roads on mountain and coastal sides, highlighting the capital city of Cuzco
and modern cities.

Trade and Culture

Trade:

- For tax purposes, censuses were taken, and populations were divided into groups based on
multiples of ten.
- The Inca did not use money for trade. Instead, they operated a system of barter and reciprocal
exchange. Goods like food, textiles, and other crafted items were exchanged between different
communities.
Culture:

- Mit’a Service: The Inca used a labor tax system called mit’a, where people were required to work for
the state for a certain period each year. This labor was used for agriculture, infrastructure projects
(like roads and bridges), and other state enterprises.
- Inca Culture Benefits: Food redistribution in times of environmental disaster, better storage facilities
for foodstuffs, work via state-sponsored projects, state-sponsored religious feasts, roads, irrigation
systems, terrace farms, military assistance, and luxury goods, especially art objects enjoyed by the
local elite.

Inca Religion

- The religion of the Inca was preoccupied with controlling the natural world and avoiding disasters like
earthquakes, floods, and drought.
- Pachakuti: The Inca believed in the natural cycle of change, the turning over of time involving death
and renewal.
- Huacas: Used to take astronomical observations at specific times of the year.
- Astronomical Calendar: Religious ceremonies took place according to the astronomical calendar,
especially the movements of the sun, moon, and Milky Way (Mayu).
- Processions and Ceremonies: Connected to agriculture, especially the planting and harvesting
seasons.
- Ancestor Worship: Inca religious rituals also involved ancestor worship, as seen through the
practice of mummification and making offerings to the gods of food, drink, and precious materials.

Incan Textiles

Overview:

- Incan textiles were central to their culture.

- They were used as symbols of wealth, status, and even currency.
- Many preserved textiles are from the highlands due to the dry climate.
- Spanish chroniclers documented designs.

Materials and Techniques:

- Textiles were made from cotton, llama, alpaca, and vicuña wool.
- The finest vicuña wool was reserved for the Inca ruler.
- Weavers used backstrap looms for small pieces and horizontal or vertical looms for larger ones.

Colors and Meanings:

- Red: conquest, rulership, and blood.

- Green: rainforests, agriculture, and growth.
- Black: creation and death.
- Colors were derived from natural dyes (plants, minerals, insects).

Designs and Patterns:

- Geometric designs, especially checkerboards, were common.

- Non-geometric motifs included jaguars, llamas, birds, and plants.
- Military tunics often had checkerboard designs with a red triangle at the neck.
Incan Mathematics

Quipu:

- Knotted strings used to record numbers and data.

- No written records, but quipus helped manage the empire.
- A base-10 positional system with different knot styles for units.
- Colors represented different categories of data (e.g., green for livestock).
- Quipus had subsidiary strings to store related information.
- Quipucamayocs were officials responsible for maintaining and interpreting quipus.

Inca Civilization Language

Quechua or Runasimi:

- Quechua during the Inca Empire: The first Inca king and his family spoke Puquina when they arrived
in Cusco before adopting Quechua as the official language.
- Quechua after the Spanish Conquest: Incas were forced to learn new language and adopt the new
Catholic religion. However, Spaniards failed to control them.
- Quechua Today in South America: Quechua is still the South America’s most spoken indigenous
language. Peru has the highest number of Quechua speakers. Quechua is a TONAL LANGUAGE.

Inca Empire’s Influence on Modern South America and the World

- Quechua Language: Widely spoken in Peru and Bolivia today.

- Inca Agricultural Practices: Such as terrace farming, continue in the Andean highlands.
- Inca Cultural Elements: Have permeated modern South American art and music.
- Tourist Attractions: Inca sites like Machu Picchu have become significant tourist attractions,
contributing to local and national economies.

Technological and Cultural Advancements

- Building roads covered with stones.

- Constructing stone structures that could survive earthquakes and other natural calamities.
- Developing quipu.
- Inventing a calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting
season.
- Developing irrigation systems and techniques for storing water for their crops to grow in all types of
land.
- Building the first suspension bridge.
- Creating Inca textiles.

Resistance to Colonization

- The Incan Empire was able to strongly resist colonization by the Spanish using a strategy called
guerrilla warfare.

Factors that Contributed to the Incan Empire’s Downfall

- Internal Division: Conflicts and power struggles within the Incan nobility weakened their ability to
mount a unified defense against the Spanish.
- Disease: Smallpox.
- Capture of the Inca Emperor: Atahualpa.

Legacy and Influence

Architectural Wonders:

- Machu Picchu: A famous and well-preserved Incan city that shows their advanced building skills.
- Roads: Their extensive road system is still used in some areas today and has inspired modern
infrastructure.

Cultural Impact:

- Language: Quechua, an Incan language, is still spoken by millions of people in the Andes.
- Traditions: Many festivals and cultural practices in the Andes have roots in Incan traditions.

Engineering Skills:

- Irrigation: Their advanced systems for watering crops are still used in farming.
- Stonework: Their technique of fitting stones together without mortar influences local building
methods.

Historical Significance:

- Archaeology: Incan sites are major research centers that help us understand ancient civilizations.
- Tourism: Places like Machu Picchu draw millions of visitors, boosting local economies and raising
global awareness of Incan culture.