The Incas: The Great Civilization of the Highlands
The Inca empire is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating in history. This vast empire, which inhabited America before the arrival of the Spaniards, is recognized for being the most extensive of all pre-Columbian civilizations. Not only did they build the great city of Machu Picchu, but they also left a cultural and architectural legacy that continues to amaze the world: the People of the Sun! If you still don’t know who we’re talking about, it’s because you know nothing, nothing, nothing about the great Inca empire, the great civilization of the mountains.
Origins and Foundation
The Incas settled in the valley of Cusco around the year 1200. Legend has it that the first ancestors were created by the Inca god in a cave known as **Topo Topo**. Thus emerged four brothers and four sisters who carried a magic staff, which would show them where there was fertile land to settle. After a long journey, they arrived in Cusco, where the staff finally stuck in the ground, pointing to the promised land. This was the beginning of what would become one of the most powerful empires in history.
Inca history is deeply linked to myths and legends that reflect their worldview. According to another version, the Incas are directly descended from **Manco Capac** and **Mama Ocllo**, who emerged from Lake Titicaca sent by the god **Inti**, the Sun, to civilize the savage peoples and found an empire. These stories, although mythical, show the importance of the Sun and the natural elements in Inca religion and culture. The Sacred Valley of the Incas, with its fertile soil and proximity to Cusco, would become the heart of the empire.
The Rise of the Empire
By the year 1438, the Incas faced a threat that almost destroyed their civilization: the Chanca tribe attacked their territory. The Inca Viracocha’s response was to flee, but his son, who would later adopt the name **Pachacútec**, decided to stay and fight. He not only successfully defended the territory, but also initiated an era of expansion and consolidation that would transform the Incas into the largest empire in South America.
Pachacutec, whose name means “he who transforms the world,” was not only a military leader, but also a skilled administrator. He organized the territory into four regions, the **Suyus**, which answered directly to him and had to pay tribute in exchange for protection. Under his leadership, the Incas came to dominate what we know today as Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, northern Chile, northwestern Argentina and southern Colombia. They respected local particularities, although they imposed their language, **Quechua**, as the official language.
The Inca system of government was highly centralized, but flexible. Pachacútec implemented the **Tawantinsuyo**, which means “the four united regions”. Each Suyu was under the control of a governor (Apu), who was to maintain peace and productivity in his region, while ensuring loyalty to the Sapa Inca, the emperor. This structure allowed the Incas to manage a vast and diverse empire, where more than 10 million people lived under their rule.
Inca Economy and Agriculture
The Inca economy was based on agriculture, and its success depended on the ability to farm in difficult terrain. The implementation of agricultural terraces, known as **andenes**, allowed the Incas to farm on the steep slopes of the Andes. These terraces not only prevented erosion, but also created microclimates that optimized water use and allowed the cultivation of various crops at different altitudes.
The potato, a crop native to the Andes, was one of the main sources of food for the Incas. They developed more than a thousand varieties of potato, adapted to the diverse climatic conditions of their vast empire. In addition, they cultivated corn, quinoa, yucca, and other agricultural products that sustained their large population. The storage of food in **colcas** (warehouses) allowed the Incas to have reserves for times of scarcity, a crucial strategy in such a challenging environment.
Machu Picchu and Inca Architecture
It was during the reign of Pachacutec that the famous **Machu Picchu** was built, a city so hidden in the mountains that it was only in the 20th century that it was discovered by the rest of the world. This masterpiece of Inca architecture is a testament to the Incas’ ability to adapt their construction to the difficult terrain of the Andes. The Incas were able to build huge cities thousands of meters high, without the use of metal tools, wheels, or pack animals such as horses.
Machu Picchu is impressive not only for its location and design, but also for its engineering. The city is built on a network of subway channels that prevent erosion and allow the evacuation of rainwater, a system that demonstrates the deep Inca knowledge of geology and hydrology. The walls of Machu Picchu, built with perfectly fitted stones, show the skill of the Inca stonemasons, capable of cutting and assembling giant stones without the need for mortar.
Cusco, the capital of the empire, is located some 3,300 meters above sea level. At that altitude, conditions are extreme: low rainfall, low temperatures and soils that are difficult to cultivate. However, the Incas not only survived, they prospered. They used advanced agricultural techniques, such as terraces and irrigation canals, which allowed them to grow crops in these hostile soils. The streets of Cusco and other Inca cities were built with a subway drainage system that prevented flooding, a further testimony to the advanced engineering that characterized this civilization.
Religion and Society
Religion played a central role in the life of the Incas. **Inti, the Sun god, was the main deity, and the Sapa Inca was considered his son on earth, which gave him a divine status. This link between religion and political power was fundamental to maintaining unity and loyalty within the empire. Sun worship was reflected in the construction of majestic temples, such as the **Coricancha** in Cusco, whose interior was lined with gold leaf to reflect the sunlight.
Inca society was organized in **ayllus**, which were communities of families that worked the land collectively. This social organization ensured that all members of society contributed to the common welfare, and also facilitated the redistribution of resources. The **mita**, a system of compulsory labor for the state, was used for large construction projects and for the maintenance of the empire’s infrastructure. In exchange for their labor, the ayllus received protection and sustenance from the state.
Organization and Communication
The organization of the empire was as efficient as it was surprising. The Incas built a network of roads that connected their entire territory, facilitating the movement of troops, goods and messages. A highly advanced messaging system, based on corridors known as **chasquis**, made it possible to send important announcements over great distances at an astonishing speed for the time.
These roads, known as **Qhapaq Ñan**, stretched for more than 40,000 kilometers through mountains, deserts and jungles, connecting the most remote points of the empire. The construction of these roads, using carved stone and advanced engineering techniques, allowed the Incas to maintain fast and efficient communication throughout their vast territory. In addition to the chasquis, the Incas also used **quipus**, a system of strings and knots, to record numerical and possibly other information, although its full meaning has yet to be deciphered.
If there is one thing that cannot be denied to the Incas, it is their tenacity. Not only did they build a vast network of roads, but they also designed suspension bridges that allowed them to cross the deep Andean valleys. These bridges, made of vegetable fibers, were periodically renewed by the local communities, which demonstrates the level of organization and cooperation that characterized the empire.
Legacy and Fall of the Inca Empire
Despite its power and sophistication, the Inca empire did not last long after the arrival of the Spanish. The fall of the empire began with the arrival of **Francisco Pizarro** and his men in 1532. Taking advantage of a civil war between the brothers **Huáscar** and **
Atahualpa**, Pizarro captured the Inca Atahualpa and, after receiving a large ransom in gold and silver, executed him. This betrayal marked the beginning of the end of the empire, which was quickly subdued by the conquistadors.
However, the legacy of the Incas lives on. The Inca’s resilience in the face of natural hardships, their ability to build at high altitudes and their system of social and economic organization continue to be studied and admired throughout the world. Many of their traditions, such as the use of the coca leaf to combat altitude sickness, are still alive among the descendants of the Incas in the Andes. In addition, their agricultural techniques, such as terraced farming, are still used by Andean farmers today.
The Incas are a civilization that achieved the unthinkable: to dominate the Andes without the aid of modern technologies. Their ability to adapt and thrive in such a hostile environment is a testament to their ingenuity and determination. Even today, their architectural and agricultural achievements are a source of wonder.