Incan report

The Inca empire lasted for three hundred years, but only really grew in the last one hundred years of its time. Its capital was where modern day Cuzco now is.

Writing and communication

Quecha was the official dialect of the Inca but there were many local variations. Quipu was the Incan writing system, made up of knots. It required special rememberers to interpret them. Their knowledge died with them.

Building

The Incan system of building required lowering one stone onto another, then chipping away the areas with compressed dust on them. The compressed dust was where the two stones met. This made no gaps in the bricks, they needed no mortar, and made them very resistant to seismic activity.

Surgery and disease

Skull surgery was used to help with problems with the brain. In pre-Incan times, the survival rates were at a third of all patients. During the Incan times, the survival rates were at 80 to 90 per cent. When the Spanish invaded, smallpox wiped out at least fifty per cent of the Incan population.

Conquest

Pizarro was the leader of the conquistadores. He managed to conquer the Incan empire with 168 men, 27 horses and one cannon. The main thing that they did was that they kidnapped the emperor, collected a ransom of one roomful of gold and twice that much in silver and then killed him.

After conquest

One member of each family of each family was required to work in a gold or silver mine at a time. Every time that person died, which was about every two to three years, another person had to take their place. The mines were not very well made.

All the gold and silver made and shaped by the Inca was melted to make holy relics for the Christians. Some buildings were taken apart to build cathedrals, which weren't as well made.

Coca

Coca leaves were chew by Incan messenger runners to give them more energy. They were viewed as magical and holy to the Inca. The conquistadors got the Incas in some places addicted to it so that they would need less food and sleep.

Roads

Incan roads were very good for the standards that they had at the time. They had special rest stops, each a day's walk from each other. There wee special message runner posts about every kilometer.

Leadership

The Sapa Inca were the leaders of the Incan empire. They were the Children of the Sun. They were the cultural, political and military leaders.

Summary

The Incan empire was one of the most advanced civilizations in America at the time. And then the Spanish killed or enslaved every single Incan in the empire.