Mitchell2

"The Incas were originally a small tribe, one of many, whose domain did not extended very far from their capital, Cuzco." [1] In 1200 A.D. they began their conquest, "their legends do not predate this time." [1] The rapid spread of the empire began with Pachacuti, who ruled from1438 to 1471. Pachacuti is said to be the most important Inca emperor. Pachacuti and his son Topa expanded the empire vastly from 1463 to 1493. During this time "the coastline extended 2,500 miles and encompassed almost 380,000 square miles." [1] "At its Peak the Inca Empire was as large as the ancient Roman Empire." [3] The Inca population was over 16 million at this time. To travel this vast empire there was a complex system of roads which could take you anywhere in the empire. Terracing was introduced to maximize the use of land.

The Inca Government was set up like a Pyrimid, it went from few to many. At the very top of the pyrimid was "the emperor, who ruled by divine right and were worshiped as divine." [2] Next came the Apo. The Apo were "prefects who were in charge of the four quarters into which the empire was divided." [2] Below the Apo came the Curaca who were like governors of local villages. A village "varied from a village of a couple of inhabitants to a much larger concentration or territory." [2]

Pachacuti mainstreamed a polytheistic religion in the Inca Empire. The main gods we Viracocha, Illapa, Mama-Quilla, pachamam, and Inti. Inti was the sun god and had many divine temples dedicated to him. Viracocha was a god of creation and helped the Inca win battles. Illapa was the weather god or thunder god. Mama-Quilla was the moon god and Pachamam was mother earth. Inti and Viricocha were the main gods but no one has determined which was the supreme god.

The Inca are distinguished from the failed empires that came before them. The Incas respected other fallen cutures by learning from them. "Inca Teachers, weavers, builders, and Metallurgists studied the conquered people's texttile techniques, architecture, gold-working, irrigation, pottery, and healing methods." [3] They learned from the mistakes of the fallen cultures, and quickly learned many new things. The Inca were also smart about the expansion, "they allowed neighboring cultures to retain much of their autonomy as long as they swore loyalty to the Inca leadership and worshiped the Inca gods." [3]

Falconer, Kieran. __Cultures of the World__. Peru. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1995. [1] Klaren, Peter Findell. __Peru: Society and Nationhood in the Andes__. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. [2] Corona, Laura. __Modern Nations of the World__. Peru. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2001. [3]