4.5.6 The Inca Empire

10. In your opinion, what was the most important innovation of the Inca and why?

Many answers are possible. This question is asking for your opinion. You might point to the government, religion, medicine, or vertical economy of the Inca.

5. How did a "vertical economy" help the Inca Empire thrive?

People raised different kinds of crops or livestock based on what elevations they lived at. People raising crops or livestock at one elevation traded their products with those of people living at other elevations. This enabled the Inca Empire to have a diversity of food products. This also meant that if one food crop failed, there were other food supplies available. A stable food supply helped the Inca Empire remain powerful.

2. Where was the Inca Empire located?

The Inca Empire was located along the Pacific coast of South America and along the Andes Mountains. It ran from southern Colombia all the way to Chile.

7. What were some Inca accomplishments in mathematics and astronomy?

The Inca generated calculations for making calendars and keeping records. They observed the sun, stars, and planets and developed a system for accurately tracking their movements.

6. What were the basic beliefs and practices of the Inca religion?

The Inca religion had many gods, with the most important being the Sun God. The people believed in an afterlife that punished evil deeds and rewarded good ones. Inca priests sacrificed crops and animals to appease their gods.

Kingdom of Cusco

(1197 - 1438 CE) A small kingdom located in the Andes Mountains of South America. It would later become the Inca Empire.

Inca Empire

(1438 - 1533 CE) A large civilization in South America that stretched from presentday Colombia to Chile. The Inca excelled at engineering and developed new crops like potatoes.

Huayna Capac

(ca. 1464 - 1525 CE) The emperor of the Inca Empire who significantly expanded the empire through military conquest. He was also known for implementing and refining a large number of public works that improved the lives of his people.

8. What factors contributed to the fall of the Inca Empire?

After Huayna Capac's death, his sons fought a civil war to determine who would succeed him. When the Spanish arrived, they were able to take advantage of this instability. Using advanced weapons, the Spanish were able to overpower the Inca military. European diseases brought by the Spanish also ravaged the Inca population.

Machu Picchu

An ancient Inca city located on a ridge between mountain peaks in what is now Peru. The architecture is closely tied to its natural setting, reflecting the deep connection the Inca had with the natural world.

1. How did earlier South American civilizations influence the Inca Empire?

Earlier civilizations such as the Chavín, Moche, Wari, and Chimú influenced Inca religion, farming practices, building traditions, and irrigation methods.

3. How did Huayna Capac influence the development of the Inca Empire?

Huayna Capac enlarged the Inca Empire to reach its greatest size. He greatly expanded and improved the system of roads across the empire, which helped unify the vast region. He also built storehouses for food along the roads to help people in need nearby.

9. How did Inca rulers unify their empire?

Inca rulers built roads to allow troops and messengers to travel throughout the empire. They required rebellious people to move to new areas of the empire. They also allowed conquered rulers who observed Inca customs to work for the Inca government.

4. How was Inca society divided into classes?

Inca society was divided into four major classes. The most powerful class was made up of the Sapa Inca and his family. Priests, government officials, and other leaders called nobles were less powerful than the Sapa Inca but still highly influential. Leaders of conquered areas formed a class beneath the nobles. All other citizens were called commoners and were at the bottom of Inca society.