THE INCA  CIVILIZATION A Take on Culture

18,000 BCE - Early hunters and gatherers 5000-2000 BCE - Tribes begin farming the land 1200 CE - City of Cuzco is formed. Manco Capac is the first ruler. 1400-1500 CE - Incas begin to conquer other tribes. They expand to 2500 miles north to south and about 500 miles east to west 1525 CE - Civil War - Emperor dies, two sons feud for the throne. They cause a 5 year long battle. 1531 CE - Pizarro brings Spanish to the Inca Empire. He kills Emperor Atahualpa 1535 CE- the Inca society is completely overthrown, and Pizarro moves the capital from Cuzco to Lima. Today - Descendants of the ancient Incas still live in the modern day country of Peru in South America A Brief History of the Inca:

The Mountain Civilization: (1438-1532, C.E.) The Inca occupied most of the western coast of South America for about a century before the Conquistadors' arrival.   They called the empire Tihuantinsuya, or “ Land of four  Quarters”. The people had been isolated so long that they believed that their empire had dominion over the entire world.

The Mountain Civilization: Most of their territory was in the Andes mountains, about 16,500 feet above sea level.  An elaborate road system covered hundreds of miles and connected the empire over long distances. Even though they had these road systems, very little trade took place inside their empire.

Society of the Inca: The Inca had two general social classes, and several subclasses. All were very rigid. One class that resembles bards was called the "Amawtakuna". They were in charge of orally transferring history and educating the citizens. The higher class got special classes and attention from the "Amawtakuna," but they also taught the all the social class the Incan. The lower classes were taught life skills by their forbears, and could not become members of the upper class. They did receive education about Top: Lower class citizens wore simple tunics with patterns that were usually uniform to their family. Right: Upper class citizens dressed in elaborate colors, veils, capes, tunics, and loin cloths. They also used feathers to signify importance.

Society of the Inca: Hierarchy of the Inca: Emperor royal family upper aristocracy administrators nobility artisans laborers The entire society worked to serve the emperor. Unique to the Inca culture, the physically and mentally disabled were given jobs that fit their abilities.

Religion: The sun was worshiped as the highest deity, but ancestral worship was allowed regionally Royal mummies were worshiped and treated as if still alive.  All bodies were embalmed and placed tombs upon death, and still then they were visited by their family members and brought food and gifts.  "Huacas," or holy objects or bodies, were placed around the empire. Most huacas were concentrated around Cuzco, the Inca capital. 

Religion: special sacrificial ceremonies were performed rarely; when the Inca wanted deliverance from things like earthquakes, drought,  plagues, or defeats in war- unblemished children were chosen to be sacrificed. It was an honor for the child and his/her family to be chosen. The child and his family were taken to the city of Cuzco to see the Emperor. Banquets were held in the child's honor. The child was then taken high up into the Andes. A special structure was made. The child was left in the structure. The child died due to exposure to the extreme cold. Small statues were then made of the child. It was believed that the child then became a deity, or god.

Arts, Textiles, Trade: All crafts were very advanced, considering the Inca's isolation. Jewelry of precious metals was intricate, masonry was well organized and weapons were far from primitive.  Most of what we consider art was used for religious purposes. Llamas were used for to transfer goods and alpacas were used for their wool. 

Technology: They had no number or writing system. Records were recorded through "quipus," or knotted bits of rope.  Advanced craniotomies with a 90% survival rate were performed by surgeons.  Aqueducts were built to supply high mountain terraces with water for farming. Such terraced land has made the Inca famous. (As featured in images to the right) Calendars were based on equinoxes and solstices

Misconceptions: The Inca were labeled by conquistadors as savage, for their technological differences and for their human sacrifices. Ironically, as the Inca reached their height, the Spanish Inquisition was torturing and killing far more people for the sake of religion, as well.  The Inca's isolation from horses and European customs (God, Eastern clothing, etc.) enabled the conquistadors to label them as their inferiors.

Other World Religious Resources at the Time: Islam - Journey to Mecca  Christianity  Catholicism  - Exploration and Conversions by Missionaries Protestant - A church established by Martin Luther that supports translations of the Bible Hinduism - Enforcing Caste System

Inca Religion After Spanish Conquest: In years following Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru most natives were converted to Catholicism. Many Inca tribes attempted to blend Catholic and native beliefs and so new beliefs followed different courses in different areas. The blending of Catholicism and Inca belief was built off of parallels between the two religions. .

The Incas: