the inca empire great empires. roads link the empire / 14,000-mile-long network of roads and bridges...
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The Inca EmpireThe Inca Empire
Great EmpiresGreat Empires
Roads Link the EmpireRoads Link the Empire
14,000-mile-long network of roads and bridges spanned the empire
traversed rugged mountains and harsh deserts
14,000-mile-long network of roads and bridges spanned the empire
traversed rugged mountains and harsh deserts
The Inca Road SystemThe Inca Road System
roads ranged from paved stone to simple paths
guest houses provided shelter for weary travelers
a system of runners traveled the roads carrying messages from one end of the empire to the other
allowed the easy movement of troops to bring control to zones where trouble might be brewing
roads ranged from paved stone to simple paths
guest houses provided shelter for weary travelers
a system of runners traveled the roads carrying messages from one end of the empire to the other
allowed the easy movement of troops to bring control to zones where trouble might be brewing
governed by a governed by a central central
bureaucracybureaucracy
divided territory divided territory and people into and people into
manageable unitsmanageable units SocialSocialgroups were groups were identified by identified by
officially dictated officially dictated patternspatterns
ononclothingclothing
imposed a single imposed a single official language, official language,
Quechua Quechua (KEHCH•wuh)(KEHCH•wuh)
founded founded schools to schools to
teach Incan teach Incan waysways
5 Easy Steps for the Inca Empire to
Create Unity
5 Easy Steps for the Inca Empire to
Create Unity
The Inca System of Record KeepingThe Inca System of Record Keeping
the Inca had no writing system
kept records using a quipu, a complicated set of colored strings tied with different-sized knots at various intervals
the Inca had no writing system
kept records using a quipu, a complicated set of colored strings tied with different-sized knots at various intervals
each knot represented a certain amount or its
multiple
the colors of each cord represented the item being counted: people, animals,
land, etc.
Quipucamayoc: special officials who kept records of births,
deaths, marriages, crops, and history
Machu Picchu: Inca Monumental Architecture
Machu Picchu: Inca Monumental Architecture
discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912
a sun temple, public buildings, a water system, and a central plaza
possible use: an estate of the king Pachacuti a retreat for Inca rulers or the
elite actual purpose = unknown
discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912
a sun temple, public buildings, a water system, and a central plaza
possible use: an estate of the king Pachacuti a retreat for Inca rulers or the
elite actual purpose = unknown
Master EngineersMaster Engineers
Incan builders Incan builders carved and carved and transported transported
huge blocks of huge blocks of stone, fitting stone, fitting
them together them together perfectly perfectly
without mortar.without mortar.
Like the Like the Romans, the Romans, the
Inca were Inca were masterful masterful engineers engineers
and and stonemasonstonemason
s. s.
They had They had no iron no iron
tools and tools and did not did not use the use the wheel.wheel.
Religion Supports the StateReligion Supports the State
Incan ruler was considered a descendant of the sun god, Inti
Temple of the Sun in Cuzco was the most sacred of all shrines
It was heavily decorated in gold, a metal the Inca referred to as “sweat of the sun”
Incan ruler was considered a descendant of the sun god, Inti
Temple of the Sun in Cuzco was the most sacred of all shrines
It was heavily decorated in gold, a metal the Inca referred to as “sweat of the sun”
Early 1500s: Discord in the
Empire
Early 1500s: Discord in the
Empire
King Huayna Capac toured the empire
in Quito, Ecuador, the king opened a gift box. Out flew butterflies and moths, considered an evil omen.
About 1525, while still in Quito, Huayna Capac died of disease.
Civil war broke out between his sons, Atahualpa and Huascar, who both claimed the throne.
Atahualpa won, but the war tore the empire apart.
1532, the Spanish arrive and conquer the empire.
Inca Power and DeclineInca Power and Decline