Incas | Historyworld

HISTORY OF THE INCAS

including headings Cuzco and the Incas, Inca roads, The quipu, The Inca state, Inca architecture, ...

Cuzco and the Incas | HISTORY OF PERU

Cuzco and the Incas

In the early 15th century the town of Cuzco is a small place, the headquarters of one of many competing tribes within the region which was once ruled from Tiwanaku. But in about 1438 a younger son of the ruler defeat...

Cuzco and the Incas | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

Cuzco and the Incas

In the early 15th century the town of Cuzco is a small place, the headquarters of one of many competing tribes within the region which was once ruled from Tiwanaku. But in about 1438 a younger son of the ruler defeat...

The Inca state | HISTORY OF PERU

The Inca state

The structure of Inca society resembles a blueprint for a utopia, drawn up by a political theorist concerned for the physical well-being of the citizens but with no interest in the higher ideals of liberty or equality. S...

The Inca state | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

The Inca state

The structure of Inca society resembles a blueprint for a utopia, drawn up by a political theorist concerned for the physical well-being of the citizens but with no interest in the higher ideals of liberty or equality. S...

The European invasion | HISTORY OF AMERICA

The European invasion

The two leading civilizations of 15th-century America, the Aztecs and the Incas, meet their sudden end at the hand of Spanish adventurers in 1521 and 1532 respectively. But the first people of the Americas to come face t...

The room of gold | HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA

The room of gold

The room proposed for the emperor's ransom measures 22 feet by 18 feet, and is about 15 feet high. It is to be filled, within two months, to half its height in gold; during the same period the entire room will be filled...

The room of gold | HISTORY OF THE SPANISH EMPIRE

The room of gold

The room proposed for the emperor's ransom measures 22 feet by 18 feet, and is about 15 feet high. It is to be filled, within two months, to half its height in gold; during the same period the entire room will be filled...

Peru of the conquistadors | HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA

Peru of the conquistadors

Peru has been conquered with greater violence, and in a more buccaneering spirit, than other parts of the developing Spanish empire. The province retains this character - as is well suggested by the fate of the leading f...

Peru of the conquistadors | HISTORY OF THE SPANISH EMPIRE

Peru of the conquistadors

Peru has been conquered with greater violence, and in a more buccaneering spirit, than other parts of the developing Spanish empire. The province retains this character - as is well suggested by the fate of the leading f...

Massacre of Cajamarca | HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA

Massacre of Cajamarca

The Spaniards, aware of their extreme vulnerability, are uncertain how to receive the Inca. They take the precaution of concealing their limited forces - cavalry, infantry, artillery - in the arcades around the square. A...

Massacre of Cajamarca | HISTORY OF THE SPANISH EMPIRE

Massacre of Cajamarca

The Spaniards, aware of their extreme vulnerability, are uncertain how to receive the Inca. They take the precaution of concealing their limited forces - cavalry, infantry, artillery - in the arcades around the square. A...

The Incas share with another much | HISTORY OF PERU

Inca architecture

The Incas share with another much earlier civilization, that of Mycenaean Greece, a habit of building with massive blocks of masonry. But the precision of the Peruvian masons puts all others to shame. In their capital at...

The Incas share with another much | HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Inca architecture

The Incas share with another much earlier civilization, that of Mycenaean Greece, a habit of building with massive blocks of masonry. But the precision of the Peruvian masons puts all others to shame. In their capital at...

The Incas share with another much | HISTORY OF THE INCAS

Inca architecture

The Incas share with another much earlier civilization, that of Mycenaean Greece, a habit of building with massive blocks of masonry. But the precision of the Peruvian masons puts all others to shame. In their capital at...

The Incas share with another much | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

Inca architecture

The Incas share with another much earlier civilization, that of Mycenaean Greece, a habit of building with massive blocks of masonry. But the precision of the Peruvian masons puts all others to shame. In their capital at...

Like some of the Roman emperors, | HISTORY OF PERU

Inca sun rituals

Like some of the Roman emperors, | HISTORY OF RELIGION

Inca sun rituals

Like some of the Roman emperors, | HISTORY OF THE INCAS

Inca sun rituals

Like some of the Roman emperors, | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

Inca sun rituals

Ever since the arrival of the | DISCOVERY OF MACHU PICCHU

Machu Picchu

Ever since the arrival of the Spaniards in Peru there have been rumours of a lost city of the Incas. Many have searched for it before the challenge inspires Hiram Bingham, an American historian. In 1911 he arrives in Cuz...

Ever since the arrival of the | DISCOVERIES - ARCHAEOLOGY

Machu Picchu

Ever since the arrival of the Spaniards in Peru there have been rumours of a lost city of the Incas. Many have searched for it before the challenge inspires Hiram Bingham, an American historian. In 1911 he arrives in Cuz...

In the organization of a civil | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION

The ingredients of civilization

In the organization of a civil service, a system of writing is an almost indispensable aid. This is not invariably the case because at least one civilization, that of the Incas in Peru, will thrive without writing. But t...

As in the ancient Persian empire | HISTORY OF TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL

Inca roads

As in the ancient Persian empire and many others, runners are housed at short distances along the routes to provide a rapid relay service. But unlike similar routes in Asian empires, these roads transmit only verbal mess...

As in the ancient Persian empire | HISTORY OF THE INCAS

Inca roads

As in the ancient Persian empire and many others, runners are housed at short distances along the routes to provide a rapid relay service. But unlike similar routes in Asian empires, these roads transmit only verbal mess...

As in the ancient Persian empire | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

Inca roads

As in the ancient Persian empire and many others, runners are housed at short distances along the routes to provide a rapid relay service. But unlike similar routes in Asian empires, these roads transmit only verbal mess...

The Inca roads, the arteries of | HISTORY OF TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL

Inca roads

The Inca roads, the arteries of an empire, amount in all to more than 14,000 miles. They are not paved, in the way of Roman roads, nor are they even much flattened - for this empire contains no wheeled vehicle nor any ho...

The Inca roads, the arteries of | HISTORY OF THE INCAS

Inca roads

The Inca roads, the arteries of an empire, amount in all to more than 14,000 miles. They are not paved, in the way of Roman roads, nor are they even much flattened - for this empire contains no wheeled vehicle nor any ho...

The Inca roads, the arteries of | HISTORY OF ANDEAN CIVILIZATION

Inca roads

The Inca roads, the arteries of an empire, amount in all to more than 14,000 miles. They are not paved, in the way of Roman roads, nor are they even much flattened - for this empire contains no wheeled vehicle nor any ho...

As recently as the 15th century, | HISTORY OF RELIGION

The religions of America

As recently as the 15th century, religion of a primitive kind, with roots in the earliest traditions of human worship, survives in a developed form in the state cults of two highly organized societies. Both involve the w...

Around this time the earliest American | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION

America

Around this time the earliest American civilizations have their beginnings, with the Olmecs in central America and the Chavin in the Andes.

Both these cultures develop large towns, centred o...