Research Guide: Los Aztecas, Los Mayas, y Los Incas: Los Incas

At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru in the 16th century, the Inca Empire stretched over a region that encompassed the Andes Mountains in South America. Named for the ethnic group that dominated one of the New World's greatest indigenous empires, the Inca Empire ruled over a domain that implemented massive public work projects and imposed a system of government, the power of which was unrivaled in South America.

The most brilliant passages in the history of Spanish adventure in the New World are undoubtedly afforded by the conquests of Mexico and Peru—the two states which combined with the largest extent of empire a refined social polity, and considerable progress in the arts of civilization. Indeed, so prominently do they stand out on the great canvas of history, that the name of the one, notwithstanding the contrast they exhibit in their respective institutions, most naturally suggests that of the other; and when I sent to Spain to collect materials for an account of the Conquest of Mexico, I included in my researches those relating to the Conquest of Peru.

The Inca civilization flourished in ancient Peru between 1400 and 1533. Its empire eventually extended across western South America, making it the largest ever seen in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time.

This staple of Incan culture (their army swore by it and considered it as valuable as gold) is a nutritional powerhouse which is finally sharing shelf space with rice, cous cous, and pasta at general supermarkets after years of taking a backseat in specialty health food stores.

A study of the locations of the Cusco, Machu Picchu, & Vilcabamba regions.

The Inka called their empire Tawantinsuyu, which means "the four regions together." At its peak, the empire covered much of western South America.The Inka Empire rose rapidly and burned bright. In little more than 100 years, it grew from a small kingdom in the highlands of Peru to become the largest empire in the Americas.

The Great Inka Road:
Engineering an Empire
A Guide for Teachers | Grades 4–12