The Inca Civilization

     When visiting ancient Inca ruins you can expect to see a breathtaking cultural site. There are many ancient cities that are made with perfect stonework still preserved today. You can see one of their holiest shrines in the Yurak Rumi, which is an intricately carved granite boulder the size of a city bus. You can see beautiful mountains surrounding the ruins. The most famous of the Inca ruins is Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is a city high in the Andes Mountains and is famous for its dry stone walls that stand without the use of mortar, its intriguing buildings, and it beautiful panoramic view.

    The Incas started out as hunter-gatherers. Later the Incas settled in a city known as Cuzco after processes of regional unification began from the late 14th century CE, and from the early 15th century CE, with the arrival of the first great Inca leader Pachakuti. The Incas began to expand in search of plunder and production resources, first to the south and then in all directions. They eventually built an empire which stretched across the Andes. The Incas were hit by an epidemic of European diseases, specifically smallpox, which had spread from central America even faster than the European invaders themselves, and the wave killed a staggering 65-90% of the population. Such a disease killed Wayna Qhapaq in 1528. Two of his sons, Waskar and Atahualpa, battled in a damaging civil war for control of the empire just when the European treasure-hunters arrived. It was this combination of factors - a perfect storm of rebellion, disease, and invasion - which brought the downfall of the mighty Inca Empire.

     The Incas had many contributions that influenced other cultures and societies. The Incas invented a network of roads and highways that connected their territory on a scale never seen before in South America. At its peak, the Incan highway system covered nearly 25,000 miles with roads that ranged from 3 to 13 feet in width and consisted of everything from simple dirt paths to passageways covered in fine paving stones. The Incas invented rope bridges as well. Longer than any stone bridge in Europe at the time, the Incan bridges spanned openings of at least 150 feet. The Incas also perfected terrace farming. The Incas actually invented freeze-drying food. They would leave their potatoes out at night under a cloth and in the morning, they would step on them to squeeze out any remaining moisture. This made an excellent backup food source in case of drought, natural disaster or any other type of crop failure.

     In Inca government, the Sapa Inca is the absolute ruler. Next in line came ten more kindred groups, more distantly related to the king and then, a third group of nobles not of Inca blood but made Incas as a privilege. At the bottom of the state apparatus were locally recruited administrators who oversaw settlements and the smallest Andean population unit the ayllu, which was a collection of households, typically of related families who worked an area of land, lived together and provided mutual support in times of need. Each ayllu was governed by a small number of nobles or kurakas, a role which could include women. Local administrators reported to over 80 regional-level administrators who, in turn, reported to a governor responsible for each quarter of the empire. The four governors reported to the supreme Inca ruler in Cuzco. 

     The economy of the Inca was heavily dependent on agriculture. Because different regions had such different climates, some farmers were forced to specialize in one crop. The whole empire traded within each other for different crops and goods through the road system that connected the whole empire. Although a certain degree of local barter was allowed, the state regulated the distribution of every important product.

     The Incas were polytheists. The Incas considered their emperors as demigods. There were many Inca gods and there was a main god, called Viracocha. He was above every other god, he had the biggest power. The Incas believed in afterlife. They cared deeply for their dead, whom they had embalmed before burial, mummified and had placed into tombs. Afterwards, the relatives had brought food and various other objects to their beloveds' resting place. They believed that the dead could hear them and would use the multitude of objects that were brought there. The religion of the Inca was preoccupied with controlling the natural world and avoiding such disasters as earthquake, floods, and drought, which inevitably brought about the natural cycle of change, the turning over of time involving death and renewal which the Inca called pachakuti.

     Inca art was practical. The Incas were an artistic people who used materials available to them in nature and blended them creating many artistic forms in utilitarian ways. Much of their artistic expression was used in everyday life and had a religious meaning.  Because they did not know science they had to attach powers to natural phenomena worshiping natural resources such as water streams or rocks, animals and almost anything related to nature and the best way to worship was to incorporate their best artistic creations in their offerings to the gods. Inca art is best seen in highly polished metalwork, ceramics, and textiles.