Transcript The Incas
The Incas 16.3 Chapter 16 Section 3 Geography • Located in South America • Began in the Andes Mountains • Capital is located in present-day Peru • Deserts, snowy mountains, fertile valleys, lush forests Create an Empire • Mid 1400’s- Emperor Pachacuti [pahchah-KOO-tee] began to expand territory • Early 1500’s- empire was huge – From Ecuador to central Chile • About 12 million people lived in empire Strong Central Government • Conquered land ruled by trusted government officials • Kids sent to capital to learn Inca way – Returned later • Quechua [KE-chuh-wuh] official Inca language – All business spoken in this language – Still spoken today Economy • Government strictly controlled economy • People worked for government and themselves • Mita [MEE-tah]- labor tax • No merchants or markets – Government distributed goods – Leftovers stored for later Social Divisions • Upper Class – Emperor, priests, government officials – Didn’t pay labor tax, best clothes, lived in stone houses – Could relax in Machu Picchu • Lower Class – Farmers, artisans, servants • Maize, peanuts, potatoes, and llamas – NO slaves – Lived simply • Law stated couldn’t own more than needed to survive Religion • Rulers related to sun god; could never die • Sacrifices – Rarely human • Llamas, cloth, or food • Outside capital people worshipped other gods – Certain items had magical powers Achievements • Grand builders – Masonry [stonework] – Network of roads • 2 major highways – Artisans • Pottery, gold and silver jewerly, textiles • NO WRITTEN LANGUAGE – Quipas [ KEE-pooz] knotted cord system – Official “memorizers” Pizarro Conquers the Incas • 1520’s- civil war broke out after emperor died – Atahualpa [ah-tah-WAHL-pah] new leader • Francisco Pizarro – 1532 met new ruler, surprise attack • 180 vs. 1,000’s • Captured emperor • Ruler for price – More than 24 tons of gold and silver – Worth millions of $ today – Still killed ruler; feared retribution • 1537- Pizarro defeated Incas – Spain took control of empire for next 300 years