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Inca Civilization
After the decadency of pre-Inca cultures, appeared a new civilization: The Inca that lasted three centuries until Spaniards arrived. It is believed Inca Empire was a multinational state because achieved to join several cultures and through its conquest, subjugate towns of different regions which are not only from Peru today but also are part of Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.
Its origin is known but there are two legends that try to explain:
• The Manco Capac legend and his leave of the Titicaca Lake
• The Ayar Brothers legend.
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION:
It developed in the center part of West zone of South America.
EXTENSION:
Its major extension was in the XVI century. It is calculated 1’800.000 km2 of surface.
LIMITS:
In the North: (Ancamayo River) in the area around Pasto city (Colombia)
In the South: Maule River (Chile)
In the East: Ecuador, Peru, Brazil jungles and Andean regions of Bolivia.
Northwest region: (Tucuman city) Argentina.
In the West: Pacific Ocean.
POPULATION:
A population between 10 and 12 million of inhabitants is estimated lived in good conditions by working with a fair distribution of the land and an efficient government.
Its capital was the cusco city, magnificent large city (Cosqo means the center of the universe) where governed the Inca, on the bank of the Huatanay and the tulumayo, this city was ornated of beautiful temples, palaces, worships, fortress. Its population has been calculated in 50,000 inhabitants.
POLITICAL DIVISION:
The empire was divided into four regions or Suyos:
CHINCHASUYO: From the northwest of Cusco city until the Ancasmayo River (Colombia).
COLLASUYO: In the southeast of Cusco city, it extended to The Maule River in (Chile); in the east, it extended to Bolivia and Tucuman (Argentina).
CONTISUYO: Southwest of Cusco (department of Apurimac, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna).
ANTISUYO: In the northeast of Cusco, it extended to the Amazon jungle (Mountain eyebrow).
CAPAC CUNA.-
List of sovereigns that governed the Inca empire:
HURIN CUSCO
(First Dynasty)
- Manco Inca
- Sinchi Roca
- Lloque Yupancui
- Maya Capac
- Capac Yupanqui
HUMAN CUSCO
(Second Dynasty)
- lnca Roca
- Yahuar Huaca
- Wiracocha
- Pachacutec
- Inca Yupanqui
- Huayna Capac
- Huascar
- Atahualpa
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
(Social Classes)
1.The Inca.-
The highest authority of the empire, mandate that is inherited, considered son of the sun. His wife was the Coya.
2.Nobility.-
Noble Birth.- It was consisted of Inca family
Privilege Nobility.- It was composed of people that stood out because of their service to the state.
3.The People.-
â—¦Hatunrunas.- they were the current citizens, the majority population.
â—¦Mitimaes.- Selected people with a lot of consideration that disseminated the culture.
â—¦Yanacunes.- They were not citizens, they neither had rights nor belonged to any Ayllu. They lived in wretched poverty.
ECONOMICAL ORGANIZATION
1.Types of work:
AYNI (works in the lands of Ayllus for their members).
LA MINCA O MINGA (works in the lands of the sun, Inca or in other of collective benefit)
LA MITA (hard works in mines, canals, fortress, the forest felling, andenes (terraced field technologies), etc.
2.Agriculture:
The agriculture reached a tremendous progress:
The lands were allotted in the following way:
â—¦Sun Land.- It was for the benefit of the Priests and offering for God.
â—¦Inca Land.- It was for the benefit of the Inca, the nobility and seniors.
â—¦People Land.- It was for the consumers distributed in fair way.
Tools:
â—¦The Chaquitaclla: The foot plow, Huactana, Racuana, etc.
â—¦Fertilizers: Island Guano, auquenido and guinea pig manure, etc.
â—¦Irrigation: Canals, aqueducts, reservoirs, dams, etc.
Main Cultivations:
Those were: Potato, maize, yucca, sweet potato, olluco, quinua, bean, pumpkin, chili, cotton, maguey (kind of agave), coca, tobacco, countless curatives herbal tea, etc.
3.Cattle Breeding:
They raised animals which provide wool and meat: Llama, alpaca, vicuña and guanaco.
â—¦They also dedicated to the hunting, fishing and trading. (by barter).
4.Road Link
The Incas built 4 great roads:
â—¦Cusco - Quito (Ecuador) and Pasto (Colombia).
◦Cusco – Nazca – Tumbes.
◦Cusco – arica – Atacama (Chile).
◦Tucumán (Argentina).
â—¦Cusco - Chuquiaba (Bolivia).
They made roads, stone and wood hanging bridge.
They also had messengers which were called Chasquis (they run several kilometers; then, they were replaced by others.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE
From the political point of view, the empire was made up of:
• The Inca .- He was the supreme authority of the empire, the political, militar and administrative chief.
• Imperial Council .- It was made up of chiefs of the 4 suyos and the old people of great experience and wisdom.
• The Caciques .- They were the chiefs of the independent ayllus of the Inca authority.
From the administrative point of view, it was structured in the following way:
- The Purec or family chief.
- The Chunca – Camayoc, chief of 10 families or Chunca.
- The Pachacacamayoc, chief of 100 families or Pachaca.
- The Huarancacamayoc, chief of 1000 families or Huaranca.
- Hunocamayoc, chief of 10.000 families or Huno
- Several Hunos forman a Suyo, whose chief was a Suyuyuc Apu.
- Four Suyos form an empire
The old peruvian people invented the Quipus, to do the accounts of the population of the lands, production, cattle, reserves of the Inca which were handled by a well educated man, the Quipucamayoc.
IMPERIAL ARMY
It was organized by discipline and compulsory military service (from 25 to 50 years old), their war weapons were of two types:
Offensives: the sling, the bow, and the arrow, the ax, the billy club, the lance, etc.
Defensives: The Shield, the Helmet.
THE RELIGION
The Inca religion was polytheistic, they worshiped to many Gods but only two were the most important: The Wiracocha and The Inti (life and joy source).
• APU CON TIKI WIRACOCHA.- “The Creator God of the universe’’
• EL INTI (or Sun God).- “He was the main God who was worshiped.’’
• PACHACAMAC: “Main divinity of the coast’’
Other Minor Gods:
The Moon (Quilla): The wife and sister of the sun.
The Mama Pacha (The land mother): source of life
Mama Cocha (The sea mother): Goddess of the water.
The Coillur: God of the Stars.
The Illapa: God of the thunder and the ray.
They also worshiped to the Huacas and the dead people.
THE EDUCATION
It was in charge of the Amautas (Wise teachers) and it took place in the Yachayhuasis (schools).
THE MORAL
The moral rules became in Laws of the Empire; and those who did not obey them, were punished, even until being killed.
• Do not Lie (Ama Llulla)
• Do not be Lazy (Ama Quella)
Its official language was the Runa Simi or Quechua, there were also other dialects like the Mochica, el Aymara and the Puquina.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITY
1.Architecture
They built temples, palaces, fortress, cities, etc.
Its architecture was characterized by:
â—¦Its colossal dimensions (great size)
â—¦Its simplicity (without ornaments)
â—¦The use of the stone in the (mountains) and the adobe in the (coast).
They had three types of architecture:
â—¦Civil architecture: They built palaces, public buildings, roads, bridges, etc.
â—¦Religious architecture: temples like the Coricancha (stunning beauty) with its golden walls and precious stone.
â—¦Military architecture: Fortress and fortified cities; the greatest of all as the Sacsayhuaman fortress (Cusco) and Machu Picchu make up one of the greatest wonders of the world.
2.Ceramics
The Incas followed the development of this art introduced by the Mochicas and the Nazcas. The predominant style was the Aribalo, a sharp and cylindrical pottery in shape with handles and ornated with beautiful colors and geometric figures.
3.Gold Work
The Incas continued the development of this art initiated before the Chimus, their works were refined: Vessels, sun effigy, earflap made of golden.
4.Textile Art
The Incas have inherited us the fabric of high artistic hierarchy for its colors, drawings, skill, dyes.
5.Music and Dance
The Incas carried out activities (also in religious festivities and other type of celebrations) to the beat of the music. The better known musical instruments were: The Antara, the Flauta (reed flute), the Pututo and the Tinya (small drum).
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