Do you want to know a little more about Peru’s most important culture? Learn about the most important points of one of the most advanced civilizations.

The Inca

This was a civilization that emerged in the 13th century and lasted until approximately the 16th century. This empire came to be composed of more than 9 million citizens from different ethnic groups and covered an area of almost 2 million square kilometers.

The Inca citizens who traveled to Cuzco, the future Inca capital, arrived from Tiauanaco, Peru due to the invasion of their territory by the Aymara ethnic group.

It is believed that these ancestors arrived in the Cusco Valley, where they founded the city of the same name and from there expanded their empire in various directions. Many were the territories to which they expanded their power, countries that we now know as Chile, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru, among others.

Inca culture

The Incas, whose language was Quechua, had mainly a sacred divinity, El Sol or the God Inti, the creator of the Inca people.

Other types of natural deities also stood out, such as the creator of the world, the Moon Goddess, among many others. The Incas were polytheistic, worshipping many deities.

Inca Empire

According to chronicles, it is believed that the Inca empire was founded by Manco Capac, a character whose existence has been questioned for decades. He is the protagonist of two legends about the foundation of the Incas.

One of them narrates the history of the capital, of which he would also be the founder. Capac launched a golden arrow after obediently following the orders of his father, the Sun God. The exact point where the arrow would fall would be the future capital of the kingdom, called Cuzco.

Another legend tells that the Sun God created Lake Titicaca and with it, the two founders of the empire, Manco Capac and Mama Oclio.

Another of the main characteristics for which the Inca society stands out is that they had one of the most efficient political systems in South America. This was divided into social classes, the first in the social scale was the Inca, then his family, the Ayllu Panaca, the curacas or nobles, among others.

There were 13 Incas who ruled the Tahuantinsuyo, the first being Manco Capac and the last Atahualpa Capac, until the arrival of the Spaniards under the command of Francisco Pizarro.

Inca Civilization

In addition to the capital of Cuzco, its kingdom Tahuantinsuyo was composed of Collasuyo, Chinchaysuyo, Contisuyo and Antisuyo.

Collasuyo was in the southeastern part of the capital, it was the largest territory in terms of extension, however, it was also the least populated. Then there was Chinchaysuyo, which was located in the northwestern part of Cuzco.

Contisuyo, the southwestern part of the capital, was the region bordering the coast, whose population lived in the river valleys. And finally, Antisuyo located in the northeastern part, which covered part of the Amazon jungle.