Carrera- David López
the end of the 15th century, the people of Ecuador were conquered by warriors from the south known as the Incas
legendary Tupac Yupanqui started the expansion to Ecuador.
Tupac Yupanqui used a combined tactic
On the one hand he resorted to military actions against those who showed resistance
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But he also opted for the alliance and compromise
Tupac Yupanqui's son was born Cuenca (Tomebamba) and was named Huayna Capac
To consolidate his achievement, Tupac Yupanqui married an important lady from Caranqui, with whom he had a son named Atahualpa.
The coast region was partially conquered
The amazon region was never conquered
After the conquest, a social organization was established where each ayllu or community had to:
Be self sufficient Deliver contributions (Product or work) to the conquerors
The regime increased exchange and labor explosion.
Roads were created
Irrigation systems were created Works were created to increase agricultural production
Works were created to increase communication between people
The dominant castes such as warriors and priests lived from the extraction of surplus labor from the communities.
The Inca state was characterized by an efficient organization
At the top of Inca society was the emperor, called the Sapa Inca. The Incas believed that the Sapa Inca was descended from Inti, the sun god
The Sapa Inca could have many wives and hundreds of children
He had one “primary” wife who was called the Coya
To ensure the purity of the royal blood, the Coya was the Sapa Inca’s full sister.
The Sapa Inca chose his heirs from their children.
Below the Sapa Inca were the nobles. The Inca nobility was made up of leaders who helped administer the vast empire.
All nobles enjoyed certain privileges They received gifts of land, servants, llamas, and fine clothing
They did not pay taxes, and men had the right to marry more than one
However, nobles were not all of equal rank
There were three main classes of nobles: Capac Incas, who were considered relatives of the emperor Hahua Incas, who did not share the royal blood Curacas, who were leaders of people conquered by the Incas
They worked as farmers and herders. The Incas did not practice slavery in the usual sense of the word.
Women might weave cloth
Men did jobs like building roads.
One day, a messenger dropped to the ground before the Sapa Inca. He delivered startling news.
“A house!”
“It drifts on the sea along the coast!”
The Sapa Inca felt fear. There had been frightening signs in recent times. Violent earthquakes had split the ground.
He went on to speak of bearded ones with white skin. They were masters of lightning and thunder!
Not long after, the bearded ones disappeared in their “sea house.” But they left something behind deadly diseases the natives had never had before.
When the Sapa Inca died, two of his sons claimed the
When the battles were over, the son named Atahualpa had won.
Before long, another message arrived from the coast. The bearded ones had returned!
The bearded strangers were Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro.
Ha ha ha
The Spaniards marched toward Cuzco.
Pizarro had heard rumors of an empire in South America that was even richer than the Aztec Empire
Pizarro betrayed Atahualpa since they had agreed to meet peacefully, however Pizarro set him up.
Atahualpa paid a tremendous ransom in hopes of gaining his freedom from his Spanish captors.
Meanwhile, speedy Inca messengers told Atahualpa that the Spaniards were coming. The Sapa Inca did not take the Spaniards seriously.
The priest offered a Catholic prayer book to Atahualpa. The insulted ruler knocked the book to the ground.
Pizarro killed Atahulapa
When the Sapa Inca died, two of his sons claimed the throne. This led to a civil war. The fighting was as bloody as any the Inca people had ever waged. When the battles were over, the son named Atahualpa had won.
Population dying from European diseases (smallpox)
Arrival of the Spaniards (Pizarro) with better weapons and war tactics
The Inca were highly successful in battle. But they had been weakened by civil war, ravaged by deadly diseases, and upset by the loss of their leader.
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Since the Incas did not write, the Inca postal system consisted of passing an oral message from one person to another until it reached its recipient.
The Incas considered elongated skulls a sign of great beauty.
