The Inca Empire I

Antonio Martín

Do you know what an empire is? How do you think the Incan

conquerors did to establish an empire in Andinoamerica?

Do you think the Incan expansion was friendly or bloody?

Brainstorming

By 1470, the end of the fifteenth century, the

Equatorial Andinoamerican villages confronted other armies that came from the south: the Incas.

An Expanding Empire

By 1470, the end of the fifteenth century, the

Equatorial Andinoamerican villages confronted other armies that came from the south: the Incas.

An Expanding Empire

The Incas came from a

lordship that emerged in southern Peru.

This empire, based on alliances and military conquests, grew until becoming the largest empire that existed in South America.

They called it “The Tahuantinsuyo”.

An Expanding Empire

The Incas came from a

lordship that emerged in southern Peru.

This empire, based on alliances and military conquests, grew until becoming the largest empire that existed in South America.

They called it “The Tahuantinsuyo”.

An Expanding Empire

The Inca Empire founder was a chief called Manco Capac,

who was the first ruler (chief, governer, president,etc.) and his wife Mama Occlo.

A legend says they left the sacred lake, Titicaca and founded the city of Cuzco in the place where their father, (the sun god) asked them to.

In the mid-fifteenth century, the Inca Pachacuti beat other major rulers and organized the great empire. His son Tupac Yupanqui expanded the empire by the Bolivian highlands to the current Argentina and the Maule River in Chile, in the south.

In the north, he conquered part of present Ecuador. His son Huayna Capac completed the conquest and came to the south of present Colombia.

An Expanding Empire

Tupac died in 1493. His son Huayna Capac

resumed the northern campaign, where he met resistance from an alliance of three lordships: Cayambi, Cochasquí and Caranqui, they three led by the chief Maxacota Puento.

Huayna Capac Campaign

The Incas had to face great battles and

were defeated several times by the Caranqui-cochasquíes.

In the end, they managed to advance and defeat them on the plain of Socapamba, on the banks of a lake, whose water were stained red by the huge amount of Caranquis soldiers’ shed blood.

That's why it is called so far Yahuarcocha (lake of blood).

Huayna Capac Campaign

The last battle of the Inca conquest. On the shores of Lake Yaguarcocha, in the present province of Imbabura, there was the defeat of the cayambis and Caranquis

Soon after the war, he consolidated his victory

by marrying a princess or lady (Quilago) from Caranqui.

There, he built great palaces, temples and defenses. His son was born in Atahualpa.

Huayna Capac Campaign

Soon after the war, he consolidated his victory

by marrying a princess or lady (Quilago) from Caranqui.

There, he built great palaces, temples and defenses. His son was born in Atahualpa.

Huayna Capac Campaign

In the early sixteenth century, the

Tahuantisuyo reached the south of present Colombia.

The Incas also entered the Coast, but their dominance was partial. It seems, however, that they controlled Puna Island and had an alliance with merchants manteños.

In the Amazon, the conquest did not occur.

Northern Empire

In the early sixteenth century, the

Tahuantisuyo reached the south of present Colombia.

The Incas also entered the Coast, but their dominance was partial. It seems, however, that they controlled Puna Island and had an alliance with merchants manteños.

In the Amazon, the conquest did not occur.

Northern Empire

The Inca presence lasted about 80 years in the

south and 40 years in the north of present Ecuador.

However, their influence on our history has been enormous. They left us their language and several social and political organization features.

Cities like Tomebamba and Quito, became political centers in The Tawantinsuyu.

Northern Empire

To build their great empire, the

Incas created a powerful army, composed of warriors from the tribes they conquered.

But the key of this military force was its professional soldiers, who were well-trained and disciplined.

Another advantage was that they moved very quick and order.

The Incas Armies

They had the best weapons, besides people in

charge of communications and supplies. They were similar to the current "special forces". They were called “orejones", because they

deformed their ears with distinctive ornaments. They had a lot of power and wealth.

The Inca Armies

Imagine you are in the fifteenth century and

you are part of the village Caranqui. A member of your family, neighbor or friend has been killed by the armies of Huayna Capac.

How would you feel about the presence of the conquerors? What would be your wishes and desires? What would you teach your children?

What kind of reactions can cause a bloody conquest? What long-term effects?

Group Activity

Estudios Sociales, Corporación Editora

Nacional. Ministerio de Educación de Ecuador. Imprenta Mariscal.

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