Inca Empire

Quick Facts: Who was Inca Empire?

Subject:

Inca Empire

Known for:

The largest empire in pre-Columbian America, centered on the Andean Mountains.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (Quechua: Tawantinsuyu pronounced [taˈwantiŋ ˈsuju], lit. 'land of four parts'), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was in the city of Cusco. The Inca civilisation rose from the Peruvian highlands sometime in the early 13th century. The Portuguese explorer Aleixo Garcia was the first European to reach the Inca Empire in 1524.

Career & Major Achievements

Later, in 1532, the Spanish began the conquest of the Inca Empire, and by 1572 the last Inca state was fully conquered. From 1438 to 1533, the Incas incorporated a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean Mountains, using conquest and peaceful assimilation, among other methods. At its largest, the empire joined modern-day Peru with what are now western Ecuador, western and south-central Bolivia, northwest Argentina, the southwesternmost tip of Colombia and a large portion of modern-day Chile, forming a state comparable to the historical empires of Eurasia. Its official language was Quechua. The Inca Empire was unique in that it lacked many of the features associated with civilization in the Old World.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The anthropologist Gordon McEwan wrote that the Incas were able to construct "one of the greatest imperial states in human history" without the use of the wheel, draft animals, knowledge of iron or steel, or even a system of writing. Notable features of the Inca Empire included its monumental architecture, especially stonework, extensive road network (Qhapaq Ñan) reaching all corners of the empire, finely-woven textiles, use of knotted strings (quipu or khipu) for record keeping and communication, agricultural innovations and production in a difficult environment, and the organization and management fostered or imposed on its people and their labor. The Inca Empire functioned largely without money and without markets. Instead, exchange of goods and services was based on reciprocity between individuals and among individuals, groups, and Inca rulers. "Taxes" consisted of a labour obligation of a person to the Empire.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1438: 1438 Milestone — From 1438 to 1533, the Incas incorporated a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean Mountains, using conquest and peaceful assimilation, among other methods.
2. 1524: 1524 Milestone — The Portuguese explorer Aleixo Garcia was the first European to reach the Inca Empire in 1524.
3. 1532: 1532 Milestone — Later, in 1532, the Spanish began the conquest of the Inca Empire, and by 1572 the last Inca state was fully conquered.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Inca Empire

True or False: “Did the Inca Empire utilize iron or steel tools in its construction and daily life?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Incas constructed a vast empire without the use of the wheel, draft animals, knowledge of iron, or steel.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar — Historical peer (Died in 1524) (1524): Spanish conquistador and first governor of Cuba, pivotal in early colonization.
• Ismail I — Historical peer (Died in 1524) (1524): Founder and first Shah of Safavid Iran, unifying the nation under native rule.
• Giacomo della Porta — Historical peer (Born in 1532) (1532): Master Italian architect and sculptor, known for blending Renaissance styles.
• John Hawkins (naval commander) — Historical peer (Born in 1532) (1532): Pioneering English naval commander, slave trader, and architect of the Elizabethan Navy.
• Bartholomew Gosnold — Historical peer (Born in 1572) (1572): English barrister, explorer, and privateer key to Virginia's founding.
• Ben Jonson — Historical peer (Born in 1572) (1572): Master dramatist of the English Renaissance, known for satire and comedy of humours.
• Jacopo della Quercia — Historical peer (Died in 1438) (1438): Pioneering Italian sculptor bridging the Gothic and Early Renaissance styles.
• Margery Kempe — Historical peer (Died in 1438) (1438): Pioneering English mystic whose autobiography shaped early English literature.
• Asakura Yoshikage — Historical peer (Born in 1533) (1533): Sengoku daimyō who ruled Echizen Province, falling to Oda Nobunaga's might.
• Atahualpa — Historical peer (Died in 1533) (1533): The last effective Inca Emperor, whose reign marked the end of the great Andean civilization.

Frequently Asked Questions about Inca Empire