The Inca Civilization Ashley Feltz, Ashley Hamilton, Ashley Giles, James Porter and Chris Bernard
History of the Inca Existed for 300 years, ruled all of South America for a hundred years.the sun was one of the most important aspects of their culture, they believed the emperors came from the Sun God Inti. The first emperor Manco Capac was born on an island in Lake Titicaca.
Legacy of the Inca's Some of the Inca's legacy still exists in Peru today. Only in some remote villages do some elders speak Quechua. - By year 1500 the Incas were the largest empire in South America -Short lived by less than 100 years - When surrendered they controlled over 12 million people spread over 2,500 miles - Some peasants in the Andes still make offerings of chicha (corn beer) and coca leaves like their ancient ancestors. Separated into 4 areas : Chinchaysuyo in the North, Collasuyo in the South, Antisuyo in the South and Condesuyo to the West
Archeologist Built a Central Plaza with surrounding temples and public buildings Inca's built large stone fortresses near or beside the cities (housing for military) Built their buildings to last by using natural stones which matched the surroundings. You can still see some of the buildings today Stone Fortress
Machu Picchu ( Forgotten City) Discovered in 1911 Some believed it was a high city in the Andes Mountains They found Palaces, temples, fortress and a royal tomb Through the whole Incan Empire the only Intihuatanas in tack is here (The rest were destroyed by spanish MACHU PICCHU invaders) INTIHUATANAS
Religion The Inca believed in many gods and goddesses, most important were : Inti ( the sun god) Viracocha ( the creator of earth and living creatures) Illapa ( the weather god) Pachamama ( the earth goddess) Mamacocha( the sea goddess) Mamaquilla ( moon goddess)
Economy The Inca's made their money through farming, land and labour, fishing and mining of silver, gold and copper. Now a days they use their heritage to bring in money by showing people the way they live... ~Tourism
Class Structure Split their social structure into 3 classes: Emperor: ruled the land Nobles: highly ranked. Helped keep control with emperor Commoners: everyday Inca's
Government Incas government was a monarchy Sapa Inca at the top. The empire was divided into 4 regions ruled by men called opas -they never invented writing the Incas kept records with a device called a quipu. It was a cord with strings of different thickness and colours hanging from it. The Incas did not have prisons, for serious crimes such as murder, stealing offenders were executed by being pushed off a cliff. Less serious crimes were punished by cutting off the hands or blinding them
Technologies -Built roadways - roads & highways that are connected their territory on a scale never seen before -Bridges -Messengers - Record keepers - Terrace Farming - Freeze Drying
Clothing was designed to reflect status rich were the only ones allowed to wear cotton. Expensive and bright Quechua was and is the language of the Incas. Soken today in Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
Inca Diet Mainly Vegetarian Potatoes- main source of food Beans Squash Sweet potatoes Avocados Tomatoes Meat- Llamas and Alpacas Manioc Quinoa Unable to grow certain crops due to severe cold and altitude
Daily Life Common people: Were organized into 'units' called ayllu 10-20 people Had no freedom Were farmers, could only keep about 1/3 of their harvest Ate two or three meals a day The emperor owned all the land. Incan people were very smart When a baby was born, their arms were tightly bound to their boyd for 3 months. They believed this made them stronger If an Incan man hadn't married by the time he was 20 and wife would be picked for him, the royals had many wives but commoners could only have one wife