THE INCA

1. THE INCA THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS – PRE-COLUMBIAN SETTLEMENTS

2. OVERVIEW • The Inca controlled a large empire in the Andean Region of South America which is present day Peru. • The empire expanded rapidly to include Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Bolivia. • The Inca called their land ‘Tawantinsuyu’ • The empire was vast and sophisticated consisting of highways, stone temples, terraced land and swinging bridges.

3. OVERVIEWCONT’D • The term ‘Inca’ actually refers to the ruler who was believed to be the child the sun. • ‘Quechua’ was the official language of the Inca realm. However, there were about 20 local languages spoken.

5. POLITICAL ORGANISATION • The Emperor was the head of government • It was believed that the emperor was a descendant of the ‘Sun God’ • The emperor was called the ‘Lord Inca’ • Lord Inca was regarded as both a king and a god • The Lord Inca resided in ‘Cuzco’ the capital of the empire

6. POLITICAL ORGANISATION • The empire had four political divisions • Each division was governed by a nobleman appointed by the Lord Inca • Each division was sub-divided into provinces ruled by a governor • In each province there were districts made up of villages which were governed by ‘Curacas’

7. POLITICAL ORGANISATION • In each village there were ‘ayallu’ • The ‘ayallu’ was made of groups of ten peasants • Each ayallu had an overseer/foreman • The empire was operated from funds/taxes called ‘mita’ • All members of the empire except nobles were required to pay mita

8. POLITICAL ORGANISATION • Mita took the form of gifts or labour • Inca people who worked in areas such as gold and silver mining, building construction or working in the fields made their mita contributions in these forms • The Inca had a very strong and sophisticated army

9. POLITICAL ORGANISATION

10. Social organisation • Houses were simple comprising a single room with thatched roof • The interior was practically bare • Animal hides or woolen mats were used as beds • Each home had a fireplace fuelled by the droppings of animals such as llama and alpaca

11. Social organisation • The Inca people wore loose garments consisting of a piece of cloth pinned at the shoulder • They also wore sandal made from llama skins • Their attire also included a head dress which varied from province to province • The Lord Inca’s garments were specially woven by priestesses who were trained for this task from as early as age ten

12. Social organisation • The noble wore clothes of fine quality • Those of higher classes enjoyed the privilege of wearing large ear plugs • Generally, the Inca people wore a great deal of jewelry

13. Social organisation • Inca food consisted mostly of starchy foods such as potatoes, corn (maize) and quinoa • Their source of protein was from guinea pigs and beans • Inca people also enjoyed fruits and vegetables • In the highlands the Inca preserved their potatoes by freezing them and extracting the juice. The freeze dried potatoes was called ‘chunu’

14. Social organisation • The meat of the guinea pig was dried and cut into strips called ‘charqui’ • The lowland Inca preferred to eat maize which was ground in a mill and cooked in porridge. • The Inca did not cook with salt, rather they licked it from the palm of their hands while they ate • The Inca people made beer from maize

15. Social organisation • Women were responsible for the maintenance of the home • They also assisted with the production of food • Women spun yarn to weave cloth for garments and blankets • They also attended to the animals • Every Inca woman was expected to marry

16. Social organisation • At her first menstruation an Inca girl was required to fast for three days • After the fasting period, she was washed by her mother and dressed in special clothes • She would then be presented to her family and her uncle would give her a name e.g. Egg, Star, Gold • She would then be paired to a boy for marriage

17. Social organisation • Worship was focused on the sun • The Lord Inca was thought to be a descendant of the sun • The Lord Inca made sacrifices of gold, silver and a boy or girl (10 yrs) to his father the Sun • About 500 girls and boys were kept for the purpose of sacrifice which was done in a room lined with gold • Sacrifices took place at sunrise

18. Social organisation • ‘Viracocha’ was the creator of all gods • ‘Inti’ was the Sun God • ‘Mama-Kilya’ was the Moon Mother • ‘Illapa’ was the God of Thunder which controlled the rain • Temples for worship were constructed at the top of pyramids called ‘Coriancha’

20. Economic organisation • The Inca traded goods such as fish, cloth, pots • They made balsa rafts for sailing and catching fish • The cloth was highly rated and was woven into beautiful patterns of various colours • There was also intensive agricultural activities • All arable land was brought under cultivation in order to feed the large population

21. Economic organisation • Irrigation canals were built mile long at the edges of fertile valleys • Human and animal waste were used as soil fertilizers as soil quality was poor • Those Inca people who neither farmed or fished became herdsmen tending to the llama • The agricultural year was regulated by a precise calendar

22. Technology • Inca developed a highly functional style of architecture • They displayed engineering techniques and fine masonry • They constructed fortresses e.g. ‘Sacahuanman’ near Cuzco • Bridges were also constructed for the purposes of carrying water and communication. • There were 3 types of bridges – swing, pontoon and raft

24. technology • A complex road network was developed • Weaponry was also sophisticated and was considered to be the best in the Americas • The Inca mixed tin and copper to form a strong bronze which was molded into weapons such as arrows • Other weapons included bolas, slings and clubs