Definition of Inca Empire

The Inca Empire extended between the territories of Chile and Bolivia and wide areas of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina, a territory of more than 4 million square kilometers.

The information currently available about the Inca people is based on the archaeological remains that remain standing. It must be borne in mind that they did not handle writing and that the Spanish conquerors destroyed much of their historical legacy when they occupied their domains.

Regarding its duration, it is estimated that the power of the Inca empire was maintained from the Xl century until 1532, when Francisco Pizarro's troops captured Atahualpa, the sovereign of the Empire inca.

Origins of this culture

According to legends, the Sun God Inti created the first sovereign of the Inca people (Manco Cápac) in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca. From this territory the first Incas went to the current city of Cuzco to found their empire. This city became the religious and political center of the Incas.

Economy, society and culture

His livelihood depended on farming, livestock and his knowledge of the art of ceramics, goldsmithing and elaboration of fabrics. They did not know the plow but they used other farming tools. They knew about fertilizers, they watered their fields through aqueducts and canals and in the highlands they practiced the culture on terraces to take advantage of the land. His main cultivation was corn and the potato, a product that would later reach Europe and would be key in the feeding of Europeans.

Regarding livestock, the llama and the vicuña were the most appreciated animals. The lands belonged to the Inca chief and were worked by the community (the products obtained were divided in three parts, one for the Inca sovereign, another for the priests and a third for the community or aillu). A part of the people's work went to the state coffers (this type of service was known as mita).

The noble class was made up of local chiefs and relatives of the Inca chiefs

Above all of them was the Inca chief, who was considered a reincarnation of the Sun God. In honor of the Sun great temples were built in which ceremonies were performed and animals were sacrificed.

The common people were divided into three different classes: the Hatunrunas dedicated themselves to agriculture and livestock, the mitimaes were transferred from their original territories to become settlers and the yanaconas were the prisoners of war.

Regardless of their activities and cults, they were an ambitious and warrior people. Hundreds of peoples lived in its vast domains and in order to unite them the Incas imposed the cult of the Sun and the language Quechua (this language is still spoken in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and in the north of Chile and Argentina). The Incas were a colonizing people and had the skill to adopt the best of each people to build a system of government effective.

Despite not knowing the deed, Inca officials had strict control over all goods through the quipu, an accounting system of cords of joined colors (each type of knot represented a certain unit and the colors were applied to the different accounting concepts, such as animals, soldiers or fruits).

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