History & Archaeology

Peru

The Inca Empire, Tawantinsuyu or the Land of the Four Corners, was centred on the Andean mountain region extending across western South America, from Quito in the north to Santiago in the south. Dating between 1438 AD to 1533 AD, it was the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time. The empire was divided into four parts which intersected at the administrative, political and military centre in Cusco. The Inca used conquest and peaceful assimilation to build a vast empire that at its peak consisted of 12 million inhabitants from more than 100 different ethnic groups. Centralised religion, language and a well-developed societal structure helped maintain a cohesive state and in the absence of a written language, a form of Quechua became the primary dialect.

Famed for their monumental architecture and sophisticated infrastructure, the Inca constructed imposing buildings and temples in honour of the pantheon of gods on which their religion and life was centred. Numerous mountaintop settlements, connected by extensive road networks and irrigation systems,  dot the Inca Trail, seamlessly adapting to the varied Andean environment and landscapes spanning mountains, deserts and tropical jungles.

Traces of the Inca’s existence are mainly found in the ruins of cities and temples, with many entangled over the years in overgrown jungle. One of the finest examples is the impressive 15th century mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu, nestled between the Andes of Peru and the Amazon basin. Escaping sacking by the Spanish, over 200 magnificent stone structures set on a steep ridge remain, and are testament to the administrative and military power and artistic and engineering capabilities of the Inca. To this day, the purpose behind many of the buildings that make up this outstanding religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centre remains unresolved.

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