Inca timeline

The founding of Cusco

1200

Founded by Manco Capac, later a god in the Inca religion. as a leader Manco was called a Sapa Inca, a trend that continued as the name of the main leader as The Incas turned to empire.

Rise of the Incas

1438

the neighbors of Cusco, the chanka tribes attacked Cusco. Pachacuti successfully defended Cusco and became emperor. Pachacuti rebuilt Cusco and started expanding his empire

The Founding of Machu Picchu

1450

An settlement high in the mountains, Machu Picchu was a fortress and imperial retreat built by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. It had a population of around 1000 and was considered one of the most sacred Inca sites

Expanion: Chimu civilization

1470

While this isn't the first time the Incas Expand their empire, the conquering of the Chimu people was the first as a unified front. the Inca took Chan Chan, the capitol, and became it became a vassal of the Inca empire

Change of leadership: Tupac Yupanqui

1471

the successor to Pachacuti, Tupac Yupanqui is credited with expanding the empire by a massive 4000 Km. This expansion caused the Incas to call their empire the "Tawantinsuyu" or the "land of four quarters"

Conquering: Pachacamac

1471

the Inca empire took over the religious site of Pachacamac, and incorporated it into their religion. The Inca also built a temple to their sun god at the site. There have been found the sacrificed bodies of 20 women on this site.

Battle of the Maule

1471

was fought between a coalition of Mapuche people of Chile and the Inca Empire, it was a battle of expansion for the Incas. the battle took 3 days and in the end, it was a stalemate.

Change of leadership: Huayna Capac

1493

After becoming leader of the Inca empire, Huayna Capac was well known for constring fortresses and roads. allowing for easier expansion and defence. Lamas where used to transport goods using roads.

Machu Picchu: abandoned

1510

a well known historical site, historians didn't know what the ruins of machu Picchu were used for. they eventually found out that it was a religious center, but they did find records of it being abandoned, while they found no reason for this, it must've been well hidden because nobody found it for hundreds of years

Civil war: The final ruler

1530

A wave of smallpox from the landing of the spanish caused the death of the current ruler of the inca empire. there had not been a chosen successor so a civil war broke out between two of his sons. the winner, Atahualpa, his leadership would be short lived because of the spanish conquistadors that were on their way.

The Battle of Puná

1531

a peripheral engagement of Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, was fought in April 1531 on the island of Puná. it was one of the first battles in the last expedition before the fall of the Inca.

Visitors: the spanish

1532

Francisco Pizarro was a conquistador who led the spanish to south america. he led a small hord of a few hundred men and was on the search for gold and other riches. the diseases that he and other travelers brought took out over half of the Inca population.

Battle of Chimborazo

1532

one of the first battles in the civil war between Huáscar and Atahualpa for power over the Inca Empire. The Battle took place in modern day ecuador. Huáscar was forced to retreat and was a decent sign to come as to who would win the war.

Battle of Quipaipán

1532

The Battle of Quipaipán was the decisive battle of the Inca Civil War. the battle took place a couple of miles west of the Inca capital Cusco. the victor, Atahualpa, had very little time as ruler because of the Spanish conquistadors that had arrived.

The beginning of the end: Battle

Nov 16, 1532

the first contact between the spanish and the Incas was friendly, with drinks and food. then the next day Francisco Pizarro attacked the army of 80,000 men, and won with no losses. he captured atahualpa during the battle.

Battle of Cajamarca

Nov 16, 1532

the ambush and seizure of the Inca ruler Atahualpa by a small Spanish force led by Francisco Pizarro. it was what allowed the Spanish to get the upper hand. The Ransom that the Inca gave to get their king back was one of the first of the few events that caused the end of the Incas

Atahualpa: the end of the last king

Jun 16, 1533

after being captured by the Spanish, Atahualpa had a ransom put over his head for his return. once the Spanish received the Ransome, they executed Atahualpa. they split the ransom between themselves and the crown.

The fall of the Inca empire

Nov 26, 1533

after the death of their "God king", the collapse of the Inca empire was extremely swift, most likely because of the power needed to keep the nation together. the subjects (near 10,000,000) people, really didn't like being ruled over by the Inca empire, allowing for the swift collapse of the empire. this was assisted by the fact that the spanish were "Exploring" south america killing and spreading diseases.

The Siege of Cusco

May 6, 1537

A Ten Month Siege of Cusco by the Inca army under the command of Sapa Inca Manco Inca Yupanqui. the city was held by a garrison of Spanish conquistador, commanded by Hernando Pizarro. The Incas were unsuccessful.

Rediscovery: Machu Picchu

Dec 1, 1911

Hiram Bingham located what he called the “lost city of the Incas” on a trip to explore an Inca site high in the mountains. while later it was discovered to most likely be a temple, it was never the less an extremely impressive find given that most of the Inca ruins had been found by that point