2. They lived in the Andes Mountains in South
America. They lived from 1400’s C.E. until 1532
when the Incas were conquered by the Spanish.
3. Inca Messengers
• The Inca Empire covered
2,500 miles.
• Used runners called
chaquis to give messages
to people in different places.
• Would travel up to 250
miles a day!
• When you were running,
you would find another
messenger who would give
you a string with knots in it.
– Knots helped you to
remember numbers, and
messages.
• Incas had no writing
system, so these messages
helped them keep track of
important records
4. Where did the Civilization come
from?
• Influenced by the
Moche and Chimu
civilizations of Peru
• These ancient
people built great
cities, roads, and
developed the
message system
5. Legend of the Incas
• Capital city is called
Cuzco. It is in the
valley of Peru.
• It is believed that the
Incans came from the
Sun God Inti
• He commanded his
son to rise out of Lake
Titicaca. His son then
became the ruler of
the Incas.
6. Empire ExpandsEmpire Expands
• Although the empire expanded, and
the Incas conquered more land, they
were attacked by the Chancas.
(Neighboring tribe)
• Another legend says that the stones
on the earth turned to warriors, and
this was how the Incas were able to
defeat their attackers.
7. Social Classes
• TOP =EMPEROR
– Named Sapa Inca, was
god-like
– Sat upon a gold litter, and
was carried by servants
– Against the law to look
him in the eyes
• MIDDLE=NOBLES
– Helped run government
– Controlled land,
resources, taxes
• BOTTOM=FARMERS
– Majority of society
– Farmed, built roads
8. Family Life
• Families belonged to
ayllus (groups) they
lived with
• Worked within a
communal land of
area where they
produced crops
• Each family member
had different
responsibilities
– Some dug ditches,
others planted
• WORKED AS A UNIT!
9. Young People• If you were a
commoner, you had no
formal education,
instead you learned
skills.
• If you were rich, you
had a tutor who taught
you religion, geometry,
public speaking, and
physical education!
• At 15, boys went
through a rite of
passage. They wore
loincloths and had to
pass month long tests of
courage. Once they
had proven themselves,
they became warriors.
10. Religious Beliefs
• Believed spirits lived in
sacred objects and
places. (Huacas: temples,
charms, nature, tombs)
• Had many priests to
perform religious
ceremonies
• Rarely sacrificed humans
(Only on sacred
occasions or during
natural disasters.)
• Sacrificed children
because their blood was
believed to be pure
11. Relations with Other People
• Incas did not always resort to war when
they encountered other groups of people in
their expanding empire. They tried to meet
with the tribe.
• They tried to compromise, and if the group
did not want to be part of the empire, then
war was declared.
• It was believed that the Incas tried to
conquer so much land because they
believed their leaders would rule the area
in the afterlife.
