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Name Class Date

Huayna Capac(?)1525

As you read the biography below, think about

how Huayna Capacs role as leader helped

advance the Inca empire.

Huayna Capac was born in Cuzco, Peru. He isconsidered the last great emperor to rule over the

Inca empire. When his father Topa Inca died in

1493, Huayna assumed the throne. During his reign,

the Inca empire reached its greatest level of expan-

sion and power.

During his time as emperor, Huayna Capac spent

long periods away from his empire. What he saw in

other places inspired him to make improvements in

Inca society. Huayna enhanced existing transporta-

tion by building new roads. He also is credited with

building many impressive palaces and temples dur-

ing the years of his rule.

Huayna Capac greatly extended the Inca empire.

For many years he and his armies fought wars

with neighboring peoples. By the time he died, his

empire extended to Quito (in modern Ecuador) in

the north and to Atacama (in modern Chile) in thesouth. The total territory of the Inca empire grew to

about 4830 km (about 3,000 miles) long from north

to south and about 645 km (about 400 miles) wide.

While Huayna was traveling on a military expe-

dition in what is now northern Ecuador, he heard

about an outbreak of disease in Cuzco. It is believed

that this epidemic may have been a disease that the

The World before the Opening of the Atlantic Biography

WHY HE MADE HISTORY Under HuaynaCapacs rule, the Inca empire greatly expand-ed its territory and reached the height of itspower.

VOCABULARY

conquistador Spanish con-queror of Mexico, Peru,or other parts of theAmericas in the 1500s

legitimate legal

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erForman/ArtResource,NY

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Name Class Date

Spanish conquistadorsbrought with them to the

New World. Regardless, Huayna bravely went to

investigate the epidemic himself. He contracted the

disease and died.Huayna Capacs death marked the decline of the

Inca empire. Before he died he divided the empire

between his two sons, so that both sons could rule

after his death. At first, Huscar (the legitimateheir

to the throne) agreed to the arrangement, but later

he changed his mind. The two brothers fought for

power, but this conflict only weakened the empire.

With the empire unstable, the Spanish conquista-

dor Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca empire in1532.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

1.Recall What improvements did Huayna Capac make to the Inca empire?

2.Draw Conclusions How did Huaynas decision to have the empire divided after

his death weaken the Inca empire?

ACTIVITY

3.Imagine that you were alive during Huayna Capacs time. Write a letter to Huayna

Capac explaining an improvement you would like to see. Explain your reasons for

wanting this improvement.

Huayna Capac, continued Biography

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

6 The World before the Opening of the Atlantic