Inca Social Inca Social StructureStructure

Inca DevelopmentInca Development

The beginning of the Inca rule started with the conquest of the Chimu Culture in Peru.

The original Inca tribe was a minor Andean tribe whose expansion began with a successful campaign against its more powerful neighbours, the Chancas, in the 1440s.

Inca Inca EmpireEmpire

Incan PeopleIncan People

The nobility of Quechua-speaking tribes assimilated into the empire were absorbed into the ruling Inca aristocracy.

The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society.

IncasIncas

Between 1200 and 1535 AD, the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile.

The Incas subsequently established an empire that, by the time of the Spanish invasion, stretched from southern Columbia to central Chile, a distance of some three thousand miles.

EconomyEconomy

Herding and AgricultureHerding and Agriculture

Llamas for wool and carrying packs Irrigation systems

AgricultureAgriculture The comprehension of how irrigation can The comprehension of how irrigation can

benefit agriculture is evident by the expansion benefit agriculture is evident by the expansion into the highland areas. into the highland areas.

They developed drainage systems and canals They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crop resources. to expand their crop resources.

Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and coca Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and coca were among the many crops grown by the were among the many crops grown by the Inca. Inca.

Llama were used for meat and transportation. Llama were used for meat and transportation. There was more than enough resources There was more than enough resources

available for everyone. available for everyone.

The IncasThe Incas

The term 'Incas' (or Inkas) is often used to refer to the people of the empire as a whole, whereas strictly it refers to the ruling aristocracy.

The position of Inca, the supreme ruler of the empire, was a more or less hereditary position, although strict precedence was often waived in favor of superior political or military ability.

Social StructureSocial Structure

The Incas had a very clear social The Incas had a very clear social structure. structure. The ruler, the Sapa Inca, and his wives, The ruler, the Sapa Inca, and his wives,

the Coyas, had supreme control over the Coyas, had supreme control over the empire. the empire.

The High Priest and the Army The High Priest and the Army Commander in Chief were next. Commander in Chief were next.

Social StructureSocial Structure

MilitaryMilitary Then came the Four Apus, the regional army Then came the Four Apus, the regional army

commanders.commanders. Next came temple priests, architects, Next came temple priests, architects,

administrators and army generals. administrators and army generals. Merchants and Middle ClassMerchants and Middle Class

Next were artisans, musicians, army captains Next were artisans, musicians, army captains and the quipucamayoc, the Incan "accountants." and the quipucamayoc, the Incan "accountants."

At the bottom were sorcerers, farmers, At the bottom were sorcerers, farmers, herding families and conscripts.herding families and conscripts.

““The Inca”The Inca” The Sapa Inca was formally married to his The Sapa Inca was formally married to his

sister, the Coya, but had legal access to a sister, the Coya, but had legal access to a large group of "Chosen Women." large group of "Chosen Women."

Some of these were devoted to the church Some of these were devoted to the church and celibate, but other were effectively other and celibate, but other were effectively other wives of the Sapa Inca.wives of the Sapa Inca.

A son was chosen from among the offspring of A son was chosen from among the offspring of the Coya or from any of the 200 or so the Coya or from any of the 200 or so concubines.concubines.

Thus brother and sister, King and Queen in Thus brother and sister, King and Queen in the Incas could be developed from a large the Incas could be developed from a large group of half-brothers and half-sisters. group of half-brothers and half-sisters.

Inca DynastyInca Dynasty About 1438, the ninth Inca, Pachacuti, set About 1438, the ninth Inca, Pachacuti, set

forth to conquer on a scale never before forth to conquer on a scale never before attempted in aboriginal America. Pachacuti attempted in aboriginal America. Pachacuti and his son, Tupac Inca, the tenth Inca, and his son, Tupac Inca, the tenth Inca, forged an empire nearly as far reaching and forged an empire nearly as far reaching and well organized as Caesar's Rome. They well organized as Caesar's Rome. They Called it Called it Tahuantinsuyu, Tahuantinsuyu, Quechua for the " Quechua for the " Four Quarters of the World ".Four Quarters of the World ".

  Huayna Capac - Valiant Youth - surely Huayna Capac - Valiant Youth - surely visited Machu Picchu after he succeeded visited Machu Picchu after he succeeded Tupac Inca in 1493, for he devoted years to Tupac Inca in 1493, for he devoted years to a grand tour of his inherited Four Quarters a grand tour of his inherited Four Quarters of the World. of the World.

DynastyDynasty Huayna Capac settled down in Ecuador with Huayna Capac settled down in Ecuador with

his hundreds of wives and concubines, his hundreds of wives and concubines, occupying a sumptuous palace of which no occupying a sumptuous palace of which no trace remains. Today natives, reminders of the trace remains. Today natives, reminders of the brief lnca occupation of Ecuador are Quechua-brief lnca occupation of Ecuador are Quechua-speaking Indian communities of diverse tribal speaking Indian communities of diverse tribal origins-some from distant Bolivia- found along origins-some from distant Bolivia- found along the Pan American Highway.the Pan American Highway.

The emperor's warrior son, Atahuallpa, The emperor's warrior son, Atahuallpa, became a favorite of the battle-tested armies became a favorite of the battle-tested armies that carried on the northern border that carried on the northern border campaigns. Meanwhile premonitions of doom campaigns. Meanwhile premonitions of doom haunted Huayna Capac.haunted Huayna Capac.

Fight for PowerFight for Power About 1525 Huayna Capac was stricken About 1525 Huayna Capac was stricken

possibly by smallpox introduced into the possibly by smallpox introduced into the continent by Europeans probing its coastline. continent by Europeans probing its coastline. Before he could choose, he died. Before he could choose, he died.

In Cuzco the high priest conferred the royal In Cuzco the high priest conferred the royal fringe on Huascar, a son of Huayna Capac and fringe on Huascar, a son of Huayna Capac and his sister wife the queen. his sister wife the queen.

But Atahuallpa, Huascar's half brother, But Atahuallpa, Huascar's half brother, governor of Quito, reportedly refused to governor of Quito, reportedly refused to accompany his father's mummy to Cuzco and accompany his father's mummy to Cuzco and render homage. His generals, veterans of render homage. His generals, veterans of Ecuadorean wars, backed his insurgency, and Ecuadorean wars, backed his insurgency, and civil war flared.civil war flared.

Huascar and AtahuallpaHuascar and Atahuallpa Huascar sent a huge inexperienced army against Huascar sent a huge inexperienced army against

Atahuallpa, but it perished in battle near Ambato, Atahuallpa, but it perished in battle near Ambato, Ecuador. Ecuador. The chronicler Cieza, who saw the skeleton-strewn battlefield The chronicler Cieza, who saw the skeleton-strewn battlefield

twenty years later, wrote that the body count of 25 or 26 twenty years later, wrote that the body count of 25 or 26 thousand was an underestimate.thousand was an underestimate.

Huascar conscripted army after army, including peasants from Huascar conscripted army after army, including peasants from as far away as Argentina. as far away as Argentina.

Thousands who had escaped the plague now fell under the Thousands who had escaped the plague now fell under the northerner's onslaughts. northerner's onslaughts.

Perhaps 200,000 men fought in the final battle near Cuzco. Perhaps 200,000 men fought in the final battle near Cuzco. The unthinkable occurred: Atahuallpa's generals tumbled The unthinkable occurred: Atahuallpa's generals tumbled

Huascar from his golden litter. Cuzco's defenders fled in Huascar from his golden litter. Cuzco's defenders fled in terror. The Son of the Sun had fallen.terror. The Son of the Sun had fallen.

The generals dressed the emperor in women's clothes. They The generals dressed the emperor in women's clothes. They forced him to eat excrement in Cuzco's streets and watch the forced him to eat excrement in Cuzco's streets and watch the extermination of his multitudinous family and courtiers.extermination of his multitudinous family and courtiers.

AtahuallpaAtahuallpa AATAHUALLPA had left Quito to make triumphal entry TAHUALLPA had left Quito to make triumphal entry

into Cuzco when he got word of his generals' victory. into Cuzco when he got word of his generals' victory. But at this moment coastal chiefs warned him of But at this moment coastal chiefs warned him of Pizarro's approach. A mere 62 cavalrymen and 106 foot Pizarro's approach. A mere 62 cavalrymen and 106 foot soldiers, armed with Toledo blades and a few guns and soldiers, armed with Toledo blades and a few guns and crossbows, were winding slowly into the mountains of crossbows, were winding slowly into the mountains of northern Peru.northern Peru.

Pizarro sent an interpreter and 15 riders under Pizarro sent an interpreter and 15 riders under Hernando de Soto (who later discovered the Mississippi Hernando de Soto (who later discovered the Mississippi River) to offer his services in arms and to ask the River) to offer his services in arms and to ask the emperor to dine next day. The seated Inca offered emperor to dine next day. The seated Inca offered ceremonial chicha, accepted the invitation, and told his ceremonial chicha, accepted the invitation, and told his guests to occupy the town plaza. guests to occupy the town plaza.

Pizarro set a trap that the Inca had unwittingly provided Pizarro set a trap that the Inca had unwittingly provided him. In the great triangular plaza, with an entrance at him. In the great triangular plaza, with an entrance at its apex, he laid an ambush. He hid his forces inside its apex, he laid an ambush. He hid his forces inside buildings that had doorways, high enough for horse and buildings that had doorways, high enough for horse and rider, facing into the walled plaza.rider, facing into the walled plaza.

Atahuallpa and PizzaroAtahuallpa and Pizzaro On Saturday, November 16, 1532, the Inca delayed his On Saturday, November 16, 1532, the Inca delayed his

social call until sundown, supposing horses to be of no social call until sundown, supposing horses to be of no use after dark, and bemused by reports that the use after dark, and bemused by reports that the bearded men were hiding in fear. Then be capped his bearded men were hiding in fear. Then be capped his spate of bad decisions by going unarmed to sup and spate of bad decisions by going unarmed to sup and spend the night in town.spend the night in town.

The Spaniards captured Atahuallpa and he ruled for The Spaniards captured Atahuallpa and he ruled for eight months from a prison compound in the triangular eight months from a prison compound in the triangular plaza, keeping his lordly mien, his authority plaza, keeping his lordly mien, his authority unquestioned by any subject of the empire. unquestioned by any subject of the empire.

  To secure his release, Atahuallpa decreed that the To secure his release, Atahuallpa decreed that the realm be ransacked to fill a 18-by-22-foot room once realm be ransacked to fill a 18-by-22-foot room once with gold, as high as he could reach, and twice with with gold, as high as he could reach, and twice with silver. Totally unaware that Pizarro's men spearheaded silver. Totally unaware that Pizarro's men spearheaded a massive European invasion of the Tahuantinsuyu, he a massive European invasion of the Tahuantinsuyu, he presumed the bearded ones would go away once they presumed the bearded ones would go away once they had received their booty.had received their booty.

By July 1533 more than 24 tons of exquisite By July 1533 more than 24 tons of exquisite treasure had been collected: idols and chalices, treasure had been collected: idols and chalices, necklaces and nuggets, accumulated through necklaces and nuggets, accumulated through centuries of placer mining. Though this was only centuries of placer mining. Though this was only a fraction of the plunder that awaited the a fraction of the plunder that awaited the Spaniards elsewhere in the Four Quarters of the Spaniards elsewhere in the Four Quarters of the World, Atahuallpa's ransom, as duly recorded in World, Atahuallpa's ransom, as duly recorded in the Spanish archives, was worth at least 267 the Spanish archives, was worth at least 267 million dollars at today's bullion values for gold million dollars at today's bullion values for gold ($315 ounce-Nov/02/1997-) and silver. ($315 ounce-Nov/02/1997-) and silver.

But instead of freeing the Inca, they But instead of freeing the Inca, they tried him for treason, and was tried him for treason, and was sentenced to death for treason against sentenced to death for treason against the strangers within his own realm. the strangers within his own realm.

To avoid the horror of being burned To avoid the horror of being burned alive as a heretic and thus deprived of alive as a heretic and thus deprived of mummification, Atahuallpa accepted mummification, Atahuallpa accepted Christian baptism and took Pizarro's Christian baptism and took Pizarro's Christian name: Francisco- Then the Christian name: Francisco- Then the Spaniards garroted Francisco Spaniards garroted Francisco Atahuallpa, thirteenth Inca, and Atahuallpa, thirteenth Inca, and marched down the royal road to Cuzco. marched down the royal road to Cuzco.

TreasonTreason