The
Inca Empire existed in South
America, covering parts of modern-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and
Argentina, with its capital in the modern-day city of Cuzco, Peru. It lasted
from about 1200 until the death of the last emperor at the hands of the
Spanish Conquistadores in 1533.
Religion
Temples and Shrines
The Sun Temple in Cuzco is the best known of the Inca temples. Another,
at Vilcashuman, has a large temple that still exists today. Near one of
Peru's highest peaks, Ancocogua, "there was a temple... an ancient oracle
held high in regard where they made their sacrifices." There was also a
temple of the sun on Titicaca Island.
As the Incas took over new places, they placed temples in their new
lands. In Caranqui, Ecuador, one temple like this had been placed on new
ground, which contained vessels of gold and silver.
The Sun Temple in Cuzco was built with stones all matched and joined.
It had a circumference of over one thousand two hundred feet. Inside the
temple was a great sized image of the sun. In one part of the temple, the
Golden Enclosure, were models of cornstalks, llamas and lumps of earth.
Portions of the Incas' land were allotted to the sun and administered for
the priests.
Sacred Sites
Huacas, or sacred sites, were widespread around the Inca land. Huacas
ranged from temples and mountains to hills and bridges. One example of
a Huaca bridge is the great Huacacha across the Apurimac River.
Priests and Chosen Women
The priests lived at all of the important shrines and temples. Priests
were supposed to have the functions of diviner of the lungs, sorcerer,
confessor and curer. The title of the chief priest in Cuzco was Villac
umu. Villac umu was married and he competed in authority with the Inca.
Villac umu had power over all the shrines and temples and he could appoint
and remove priests.
In the selection and training of Chosen Women, only the most skilled
would be chosen, and they would be chosen at an early age. Their time was
spent weaving textiles used by the Inca and the priests.
Divination
Divination was considered before all action. Nothing of importance was
done without divination. Divination was used to diagnose illnesses, predict
what would happen in battles and to drive out crimes. Divination was also
used to determine which sacrifices should be made to which god. The Incas
believed that life was controlled by unseen powers. To determine these
outlooks, the priest had to recourse to divination.
Watching spiders move and looking at the arrangement that coca leaves
took in a shallow dish accomplished divination. Another way of divination
being accomplished was to drink ayahuasca, a hallucinatory drug that affects
the central nervous system. This was believed to enable a person to be
in touch with supernatural powers. Studying the lungs of a sacrificed white
llama also carried out divination. The lungs of the llama were inflated
by blowing into the dissected trachea and then were removed by priests,
who minutely studied the veins.
Sacrifice
Sacrifice, both human and animal, was offered at every important occasion.
Many sacrifices were done every day for the ceremony of the suns appearance.
At times of big sacrifices, up to two hundred children could be offered.
Even the chosen women from the Sun Temple were sometimes taken out for
sacrifice. It was important when humans were offered that they were unmarked
and in perfect condition. Many people for sacrifices were taken from defeated
places as part of taxation.
Festivals
The Incas had a thirty-day calendar in which each month had it's own
festival. Festivals gave the puric (a tax-paying Indian) a sense of belonging.
Hymns were sung.
The months and celebrations of the calendar are shown below:
Georgian month |
Peruvian month |
Translation |
December |
Capac Raimi |
Magnificent festival |
January |
Huchuy Pacoy |
Small ripening |
February |
Hutan Pocoy |
Great ripening |
March |
Paucar Warai |
Garment of flowers |
April |
Ariway |
Dance of the young maize |
May |
Aimuari |
Song of the harvest |
June |
Inti Raimi |
Festival of the sun |
July |
Anta Situwa |
Earthly purification |
August |
Capac Situwa |
General purification sacrifice |
September |
Caya Raimi |
Festival of the queen |
October |
Uma Raimi |
Festival of the water |
November |
Ayamarca |
Procession of the dead |
Burial Practices
The Incas believed in re-incarnation. Those who obeyed the Inca rule;
"ama sua, ama llulla, ama chella" (do not steal, do not lie, do not be
lazy), went to live in the Suns warmth. Those who did not obey this rule
spent their eternal days in the cold earth.
Society
Childhood
Inca childhood can seem to be harsh by modern standards. When a baby
was born, the Incas would wash the child in cold water then wrap it in
a blanket. The mother would carry around the child. After a while, the
baby was put in a pit dug in the ground which was like a playpen. By about
1, the baby would be expected to learn to crawl and walk without any help.
At age 2, the boy or girl would go to a naming ceremony where they left
babyhood and a lock was cut from their hair. From then on, boys and girls
were expected to help around the house. Misbehaving during this time could
result to very severe punishment. At age 14, boys were given a loincloth
in a ceremony to mark their manhod. Boys from noble families were put through
many different tests of endurance and knowledge. After the test, a certain
color of earplugs and weapon would ber given to them. The color stood for
their rank in society.
The Organisation of the Empire
At the top of the Inca Empire was The Inca. The Inca was a god-like
figure that was carried around in great style wearing a special headdress
that showed his superior power.
Next were the Royal family, nobles, military leaders and religious leaders.
These people controlled the Inca Empire and many of them lived in Cuzco.
Third in line were the governors of the four provinces of the Inca Empire.
These people had great powers; they could organise troops, organise tribute
and organise law and order.
Then were the local officials. These were responsible for less important
judgements, like settling disputes and giving out punishments.
Last were the other peasants.
The start of the Inca Empire
The Incas came from the mountains of Peru. They took over the Andes
Mountains of South America. The Inca civilisation reached its peak in the
fifteenth century, under the rule of Pachacuti. The Incas built stone cities
and fine roads. They built houses out of mud. The Incas also built bridges
made of rope, and the rope made of twined plant fibres. These often crossed
steep gorges.
The Inca Emperors
The first Inca emperor was Manco Capac, who ruled from about 1200. Details
of many of the earlier emperors were lost in the Spanish Conquest.
AD1200 ~ Manco Capac Sinchi Roca Lloque Yupanqui Mayta Capac Capac Yupanqui
Inca Roca Yahuar Huacac Vircocha Inca 1438 - 1437 ~ Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui
1471 - 1493 ~ Topa Inca Yupanqui 1493 - 1527 ~ Huayna Capac 1527 - 1532
~ Huascar 1532 - 1533 ~ Atahualpa
When Pachacuti was emperor, he was described as the greatest man in
Ancient America. He sent expeditions to conquer new lands. If his opponents
surrendered they were well-trested. If not, little mercy was shown to them.
As Pachacuti won more and more lands, his armies became larger and more
successful.
Pachacuti knew how to win people over. He would send messages to the
leaders of the lands to be conquered telling them of the benefits of joining
the Incas. If they gave up their land, they would be in control of their
local area but they would be within the Inca Empire. Their sons would be
given a full education and they would be treated as nobles.
Expanding the Inca Empire
The Incas had a well-trained and well-organised army. When the Incas
conquered a place, people gave work tribute to help develop the Empire.
The Incas encouraged people to join the Empire, and if they did then they
would be well treated for doing so. Postal services were set up with runners
who delivered messages and packages between major cities. They would also
broadcast news at speeds of up to one hundred and twenty-five miles a day
- someone would shout the message, a messenger would run to the next person
and tell them the message, then that person would run and tell the next
person, and so on until the message reached it's destination. The Incas
exchanged populations in conquered areas. The whole Inca Empire was linked
by lots of good roads and bridges.
Organising the Empire
The Incas were told what job they had to do, how much land they could
farm and where they could and could not travel.
In return for keeping these rules, the Incas were well looked after.
If an Inca was caught stealing but it was not proven, then the Local
Official would be punished for 'not doing his job properly'.
The Inca Empire helped those unable to work. Wives were given wool allowance.
The Inca people had to work on the Empire's and the god's land before their
own.
The Incas had no freedom to travel, and the son always had to follow
his fathers' trade. The Inca Empire was divided into four parts. All parts
of the Inca life was supervised by Inca officials. It is generally believed
that the Inca Empire developed no form of writing at all, relying mostly
on the transmission of information passed on by mouth.
Music
The Incas played melodies on their woodwind instruments and drums. The
woodwinds that they had included flutes, pan-pipes and trumpets which were
made of shell and ceramics.
Arts and Crafts
The Incas produced amazing craftwork that ranged from images of gods
to items of every day use. They made beautiful objects of gold. The chosen
women made fine cloth woven with amazing designs.
Food, Currency, Clothing and Medicines
Farming
At the peak of the Inca civilisation in 1400, the farmers of the Inca
Empire were well spread, going from Columbia through Chile. They cultivated
food crops on dry pacific coastlines, high on the slopes of the Andes,
and deep in the lowland Amazon jungle. It is estimated that the Incas grew
around seventy crop species. A key to the Incas' farming success was that
their footpath and road system allowed distribution of their crops over
large distances. The Incas main crops were sweet potatoes, meat and maize.
They had terraced fields and were one of the first people to use irrigation
systems in their fields. The Incas used simple digging sticks and ploughs.
They used Llamas for wool, ropes, blankets and meat.
The Inca leaders kept records of what each family in the empire produced.
Hunting
The Incas used arrows and blow pipes to hunt and kill animals. They
hunted deer, pumas and fish. The way that they actually made the kill was
that huge numbers formed a circle and closed in on the animals.
Food
The main crops of the Incas were maize, cotton, potatoes, an edible
root called oca, and a grain known as quinoa. The Incas used maize to make
Chica, a beer that was very popular then.
The food that the Incas ate mainly consisted of vegetables. They ate
stews and porridges, often with guinea pigs to add flavour.
Currency
The Incas did not have money as such. The used barter and traded goods
for other goods. Workers got labour credit, which was work paid for in
goods or food.
Clothing
Inca men wore a sleeveless, knee-length tunic, sometimes with a cape.
The women had large clothes and often wore sandals.
The Inca's liked to decorate themselves. There were better colours for
the rich and the quality of the cloth that they wore depended how important
the person was. The Inca's used different headdresses to symbolise different
Inca tribes.
The Inca men wore a lot of jewellery, whereas the women wore very little.
The rich wore gold bracelets and huge earplugs. Warriors wore necklaces
made of their victim's teeth.
Medicine
The Incas made many discoveries in medicine and cures. They used quinine
to treat malaria, they performed successful brain surgery and they discovered
medicines to lessen pain.
The Spanish Conquest
The Background to the Conquest of the Incas
War broke out amidst the Inca Empire when Huayna Capac became emperor.
Some sources show that he may have been just five years old. Huayna upset
many people and liked to be cruel. The war between the people lasted twelve
years.
Rumours spread around the Inca Empire like wild fire about strange 'bearded
men' who lived in 'a house in the sea' and had 'thunder and lightning in
their hands'. These strange men started killing off many of the Inca soldiers
with the diseases that they brought.
By the time Huayna Capac had died, the Empire was standing on its last
legs. There was a dispute of power between Huayna's two sons. Cuzco was
given to the new Emperor, Huascar, who was one of those two sons. Huascar
was a horrible person who was ugly, bad mannered and half-mad. He came
close to murdering his sister and mother. He also forced his own sister
to marry him. Huayna Capac's favorite son, Atahualpa, was given Quito and
the Northern Territory. Huascar was now very angry.
Civil war broke out between the two brothers. It was named The War of
the Two Brothers. One hundred thousand people were killed in this bloodthirsty
dispute.
After many struggles, Atahualpa finally defeated Huascar. Now Athuapula
was the one who was half-mad, as he treated his losers terribly. Many had
stones dropped on their backs to cripple them. Nearly one thousand five
hundred members of the Royal Family were cut up in front of Huascar. Huascar's
children were also cut up. Unborn children were ripped out of their mothers.
Bodies were stuck on spikes for display. Normal people were tortured.
Atahualpa paid a terrible price to be an emperor. His Empire had been
terribly shaken and weakened. At this critical moment, the 'strange bearded
men' arrived. The final scene was now in place for the end of the Inca
Empire. These strange bearded men turned out to be Francisco Pizarro's
men; from Spain.
The Actual Conquest
Pizarro and his men found a camp at which Atahualpa was staying. Pizarro
sent a messenger to Atahualpa asking if they could meet with him. Atahualpa
agreed to meet with the Spanish. Atahualpa rode in to the place where they
were supposed to meet. However, when he arrived, the place looked deserted.
A man named Vicente de Valverde appeared. Through a translator, he told
the Inca Atahualpa that he and his people must convert to Spanish, and
if he refused he would be considered an enemy of the Church and of Spain.
Atahualpa disagreed. This refusal gave Francisco Pizarro enough reason
to attack the Inca people. The Spanish opened fire and attacked the Inca
soldiers that were there with Atahualpa. In the struggle, Pizarro's men
went after the Inca intending to kill him. However, Pizarro had plans of
his own. Atahualpa was captured and taken prisoner.
While in capture, Atahualpa was not treated badly and he was allowed
to stay in contact with his people.
Atahualpa wanted to be free, so he decided to make a deal with Pizarro.
He agreed to fill a room with gold and silver in return for his release.
They shook on it, but Pizarro had no intentions of letting Atahualpa go
as Pizarro needed Atahualpa's influence over the Inca people to keep order
once the Spanish started to take over.
Huascar, who only played a small role in things, was still alive. Atahualpa
feared that as long as Huascar lived, Pizarro might not need him, for Huascar
would make a better puppet ruler than him. Atahualpa feared for his life
and so ordered the execution of his brother, Huascar.
That day, Pizarro and the Spanish decided to charge Atahualpa with twelve
things, the most important being attempting to revolt against the Spanish,
practicing idolatry and murdering Huascar. Atahualpa was found guilty of
all twelve charges, and was sentenced to be burned.
That very night, Francisco Pizarro decided to execute Atahualpa. After
being led to the place of execution, Atahualpa begged for his life. Valverde,
the priest that started the whole thing, told Atahualpa that if he agreed
to convert then he would reduce the sentence. Atahualpa agreed to be baptised
and was strangled instead of being burnt. Atahualpa died on August 29,
1553. With him, died "the independent existence of a noble race".
The death of Atahualpa was the beginning of the end of the Inca Empire.
The situation went quickly downhill. Francisco Pizarro had Toparca,
Atahualpa's brother, named Inca and used him as a 'puppet ruler' until
he died unexpectedly. Everything fell apart. Remote parts of the Inca Empire
revolted, and in some cases they joined with the Spanish against the Incas.
Lands and crops were neglected and the Incas experienced a famine that
they had never known. The Incas, now wise to the Spanish motives of getting
all the gold and silver that they could, started looting and hiding everything
from everyone. Disease played a huge role. The diseases that had been running
wild around Europe that the Incas had never met were now destroying the
lives of hundreds of thousands of Incas. The gold that Pizarro and his
men wanted so badly was everywhere and prices soared. A good horse went
up to $7000. Grain became more valuable than the Spaniards precious gold.
The great Inca civilisation, as it was known, no longer existed.
After the Spanish Conquest
The Inca Empire was brought down by fewer than two hundred of Francisco
Pizarro's men and twenty-seven horses. Pizarro and later Spaniards repressed
the Incas and their traditions, whilst they hid away their farming system.
From the deprival of health, nutrition and economics, the territories of
what belonged to the Incas remain today some of the most poverty-stricken
in the world. The Spanish made less of the cultivation of most of the Incas'
crops, such as quinoa and important root crops.