The Inca

Southeastern Peru

Jan 1, 1200

The Inca first appeared in what is today southeastern Peru during the 12th century.Manco Capac to Earth through the middle of three caves in the village of Paccari Tampu. After killing his brothers, Manco Capac led his sisters through the forest before settling a valley near Cusco circa 1200.

1438 - 1463

Jan 4, 1438

Thought 1438 - 1463, the Chanca threaten the Inca who are ruled by their 8th leader, Viracocha Inca. His son, Pachacuti, and his followers to defeat Chanca. Pachacuti becomes the 9th ruler. Cuzco is his capital.

Rival Chancas Attacked Circa

Jul 4, 1438

When the rival Chancas attacked circa 1438, Viracocha Inca retreated to a military outpost while his son. While Cusi Inca Yupanqui successfully defended Cusco. Taking the title of Pachacuti, Inca Yupanqui became one of the Inca’s most influential rulers.

1463-1471

Apr 4, 1463

Pachacuti took over more land and some coastal areas by 1470. The empire expands as people decide to follow the Inca rather than fight them. Pachacuti died in 1471.

Ascending to the Throne

Dec 16, 1471

Upon increasing to the throne in 1471, Topa Inca Yupanqui pushed the southern border of the empire to the Maule River in modern-day Chile, and instituted a tribute system in which each province provided women to serve as temple maidens or brides for celebrated soldiers. His Huayna Capac, boarded successful northern campaigns that carried to the Pacasmayo River, the current boarder between Ecuador and Colombia.

Arrival of Spanish Explorers

May 5, 1525

Meanwhile, the arrival of Spanish explorers had already triggered the collapse of the state. The Spanish carried diseases as smallpox, which wiped out a huge part of the population before killing Huayna Capac and his chosen successor around 1525. That sparked a civil war as would-be emperors battled for power, with Atahualpa eventually outlasting his half-brother, Huascar, to grab the throne.

Francisco Pizarro

Apr 19, 1532

Hooked by the stories of Inca wealth, Spanish winner Francisco Pizarro lured Atahualpa to meeting for a supposed dinner in his honor and kidnapped the emperor in November 1532. Atahualpa was killed the following summer, and although the Spanish were far outnumbered by the locals. They easily sacked Cusco in late 1533 with their superior weaponry.

Manco Inca Yupanqui

Nov 21, 1536

Attempting to keep the peace, the Spanish installed a young prince named Manco Inca Yupanqui a young puppet king.Manco Inca Yupanqui and his men were eventually forced to retreat to the jungle village of Vilcabamba, the last stronghold of the empire until 1572. As the only written accounts of the Inca were composed by outsiders, its study and culture passed to completed generations by trained storytellers.

Andes region

Feb 3, 1572

The Inca first appeared in the Andes region during the 12th century and built a big kingdom through the military strength of their emperors. Known as Tawantinsuyu, the Inca state largened the distance of northern Ecuador to central Chile and had 12 million inhabitants from more than 100 different ethnic groups at its peak. The Inca were quickly overwhelmed by the diseases and superior weaponry of Spanish invaders in 1572.

Machu Picchu

Mar 27, 1911

Traces of Machu Picchu were mainly found in the ruins of cities and temples, but in 1911 archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered the intact 15th century. Mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu, its buaiful stone structures reflecting the power and capabilities of this big Pre-Colombian state.As the only written accounts of the Inca were composed by outsiders, its study and culture passed to suceding generations.