Chapter 26 The Incas

1. Chapter 26The Incas

2. Word you need to know • Litter – a seat or chair on which a person is carried; a kind of carriage for high-ranking people • Ayllu – an Inca clan (group 0f related families), the basic unit of Inca society • Communal – shared by a community or group • Divination – the art of telling the future or finding hidden knowledge through religious means • Oracle – a person through whom god or spirit is believed to speak

3. Incas • Developed in the Andes Mountains of South America • Rose in the 1400s and lasted until 1532 when conquered by Spanish explorers • Stretched 2,500 miles • Used runners called chasquis to relay messages • Messages in a set of strings called a quipu also receive a verbal message

4. Rise of Inca empire • Vast well-organized empire – included most of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina • 10 million people • Adopted ideas and institutions there before them • Moche (Northern coast of Peru from 100 B.C.E. To 700 C.E.) they built cities, dug irrigation canals and had special classes of workers • Chimu (Northern Peru 1300s and 1400s) built cities and irrigation methods • Traditions were passed on to Incas • Made good roads and a message system using runner

5. Center of Inca empire was Cuzco – located in a valley high in mountains of Southern Peru • Early history cloaked in myth – people descended from Inti (sun god) command his son (Manco Capac) to rise out of waters of Lake Titicaca and found Inca tribe • Began expanding territory around 1438 when attacked by Chancas – people ran but one rulers son (Yupanqui) stayed behind and the stones on the battlefield turned into powerful warriors and they won. He changed his name to Pachacuti (earthshaker) and seized throne • Eventually subdued all major groups in central Andes and conquered the Chimu

6. Roads and messengers • Relied on a system of roads – the coastal and the inland road (called the Royal road) • As impressive as those of ancient Rome • 15,000 miles of road – crossed tropical jungle, high mountains, and raging rivers • Shelters every 15 -30 miles • Used elaborate relay system for messages • Messengers carried messages from one station to another – messages could go 250 miles a day • Memorized words and sets of strings • Inca had no system of written language and used strings as a substitute for written language

7. Class structure • Based on strictly organized class structure • Three classes – • Emperor and immediate family • Nobles • Commoners • As empire grew structures became ore complex

8. Emperor • Top of society • Descended from Inti – the sun god and ruled with complete authority • Everything in empire belonged to him • Was carried everywhere • People were not allowed to look him in the eye • Could have many wives and hundreds of children • Had a primary wife called the Coya – and was his full sister and the future ruler came from their children

9. Nobles • Leaders that helped administer the vast empire • Received land, servants, llamas and fine clothing • Didn’t pay taxes and could have more than one wife • Not all nobles of equal rank- Three classes – • Capac Incas – relatives to emperor – believed to descend from Manco Capac – controlled land and resources – held most important jobs in government, army and priesthood – Apus (governors) came from this group • Hahua Incas – no royal blood – Incas by privilege sometimes from common birth • Curacas – leaders of people conquered by the Incas – collected taxes, worked as inspectors made sure others followed law (wear proper clothing, keeping houses clean) allowed to rule only if followed Inca ways

10. Commoners • Most were farmers and herders • Had to support government through products and government-sponsored projects • Men – building roads • Women – weaving cloth • Grew many different crops – 20 types of corn (fresh, fried, and popped), 200 types of potato • Most important crop was potato • Most crops went to government and were stored in storehouses though out empire • Distributed to warriors, temple priests and people in need ( aged, sick and disabled)

11. Family life • Families belonged to clans called ayllus • Could be the size of a village to a large town • Had own farming land and homes – but they didn’t own land it belonged to the emperor – the land was on loan to them for living and farming • Worked as a commune to grow crops and produce goods • Everyone had a responsibility to ayllu and to government • Leaders made sure all work was done • Clear fields – dig irrigation ditches Households came under authority of series of curacas –one for every 10 households – 50 of these under a supervisor of higher-level curaca and then an even higher level in charge of 100-10,000 households Curacas made sure taxes paid (in form of goods or labor – commoners kept 1/3 for selves – 1/3 to temple system and 1/3 to emperor Men paid public duty tax – labor to government need

12. Childhood • Born into ayllus of hardworking commoners • Learned responsibilities early in life • Girls – took care of babies, fetched water, cooked, made clothing learned to weave • Boys looked after animals and helped in fields • Most commoners didn’t receive an education – instead learned skills from elders • Sons of nobles had tutors and were taught religion, geometry, history, military strategy, public speaking, and physical training – had to pass month long tests in courage, strength and discipline then swore loyalty to emperor and received weapons of Inca warrior,

13. Marriage • Young men and women stayed home until married. • Men early 20’s • Women as early as 16 • Married with in ayllu • Arranged by family or by selves • Marriage market – where young men chose wives – if agreed to marry they held hands and exchanged sandals • Once married established own homes • One room adobe brick or stone • Nobles had several rooms and fancier houses • Also servants

14. Religion • Gods influenced their daily lives • Believed in many gods • Illapu weather god and rain deliverer • Paca Mana – Earth Mother • Mama Cocha – goddess of the sea • All received their power from Viracocha – creator of the world • Most important – Inti – sun god • Emperors family descended from the sun god • God of agriculture – the basis of Inca life • Spirits dwelled in certain sacred objects and places ( temples, charms and places in nature such as springs and rocks) • Believed in afterlife so tombs and bodies of dead also considered sacred • Formal and required many priests to conduct rituals and ceremonies • High priest related to Sapa Inca and presided over Sun Temple

15. Daily threw corn on a fire to encourage the sun to appear • Sacrificed live animals (llamas or guinea pigs • Human sacrifice but only on most sacred occasions or in times of natural disaster • Priests tried to predict future • When should army attack another tribe • Chosen women • Beautiful, graceful and talented girls between 8-10 • Lived in convents • Studied religion learned how to prepare special food and drink and wove garments for Sapa Inca and Coya • At age 15 left convents to marry nobles or work in shrines a few were chosen for sacrifice

16. Relations with other tribes • Sent a delegate to meet with tribe – ask them to join empire and get peace and prosperity • Leaders could keep some power • If resisted two sides meet in battle used spears, axes and clubs and stones with slings • Would move tribe to another area in empire and take over lands. • Had to adopt ways of Incas and build temple to sun god – could still worship own gods but must accept Incas as most powerful • Local leaders brought to Cuzco to study Inca laws and the Quechua (the official language) and would return as curacas • Teachers sent to create Inca style villages – with storehouses, irrigation system and terraced farming fields • Took a religious object as ‘hostage’ so could keep tribe under control • If didn’t come into line killed leaders or move away and settled their members in the area • After death the Sapa Inca continued to rule lands conquered

17. Summary • In 1400s Inca rapidly expanded power from their base Cuzco • Empire extended almost all the way along Andes Mountains • Impressive system of roads and messengers • Three levels to class structure • Emperor and family • Nobility • Commoners • All Incas belonged to ayllus – which provided empire with crops, goods, and labor • Many religious practices to maintain proper relationship with gods • Used various means to bring groups under their control