Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
SlideShare a Scribd company logo
The Inca
Civilization
INCA CIVILIZATION
INCA CIVILIZATION
A Little History
At first, the Incas were simply a small
tribe that lived in the city of  Cuzco.
They worshiped gods of nature. They
believed in omens and dreams. Around
1430 C.E, a neighboring tribe
attacked the Incas.
The Incas won! That was the
beginning of the Inca Empire.
GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHY
       ANDES
        MOUNTAINS

        * North to south were the
          Andes Mountains - home
          of the Inca civilization.
       * The mountains dominated
          Incan society.
       * The mountain peaks were
          worshiped as gods.
GEOGRAPHY

       * The Andes created a
         natural barrier between
         the coastal desert on
         one side and the jungle
         on the other.

       * The snow-capped
         mountains were full of
         deep gorges.
GEOGRAPHY
       * The Inca built bridges
         across the gorges so
         they could reach all
         parts of their empire
         quickly and easily.

       * These mountain gorges
         were natural barriers. If
         an enemy approached,
         the Incas could simply
         burn the bridges.
GEOGRAPHY
       AMAZON JUNGLE

       * On one side of the Andes
         was the Amazon jungle.

       * The Incas must have
         entered the jungle
         occasionally, as they did
         know about the many
         valuable things that could
         be found in the Amazon,
         like wood and fruit and
         natural medicines.
GEOGRAPHY

       * But they never established
         settlements there. They
         had no desire to live in the
         jungle.

       * The Incas expanded north
         and south instead.
GEOGRAPHY
       COASTAL
        DESERT

       * Between the mountains
         and the Pacific Ocean is a
         coastal desert 2000 miles
         long and between 30-100
         miles wide.
GEOGRAPHY

       * The desert provided a
         wonderful natural barrier.

       * There are fertile strips
         where small rivers and
         streams run from the
         Andes mountaintops to
         the sea.
CULTURE
RELIGION
* Practiced several
  polytheistic religions

* Viracocha was the
  creator of the Sun, the
  Moon and the Stars.
GOVERNMENT
Sapa Inca
*Inca     : means emperor
*Sapa     :means the only emperor

- The Sapa Inca ruled everything and owned
  everything. The Inca was not just a ruler. The Inca
  was believed to be a direct descendant of the sun
  god, Inti.
ARCHITECTURE
* The Incas built the best planned cities in the
  ancient Americas.

* Most Incan cities did not have walls around
  them.

* The Incas build beautiful cities.

* The architecture was formal yet simple.
ARCHITECTURE
Machu Picchu :

The Forgotten City
CONTRIBUTIONS
Calendar

* Each calendar month
  hosted a different religious
  festival.
* The Incan calendar was
  divided into 12 months.
  Each month was divided
  into 3 weeks. Each week
  had 10 days.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Musical Instruments

* They invented many wind
  and percussion
  instruments.
* Drums and flutes were
  very popular.
* The panpipe was the most
  popular.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Systems of
 Measurements:
Quipus

* Using a base of ten, the
  quipus had a main string
  about two feet long.

* The quipus allowed
  messages to be carried by
  the Inca runners from one
  end of the empire to the
  other.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Important to the success of the Inca
  Empire:

* Communication            : roads, runners

* Specialized Professions :engineers,metal
               workers, stone masons, other
               artisans
ACHIEVEMENTS
* Service Tax :huge free labor force

* Technology : terrace farming, surplus
             crops, irrigation systems

* Strong Central Government: all powerful
  Inca, strict laws, basic needs satisfied

More Related Content

Inca Civilization

  • 4. A Little History At first, the Incas were simply a small tribe that lived in the city of  Cuzco. They worshiped gods of nature. They believed in omens and dreams. Around 1430 C.E, a neighboring tribe attacked the Incas. The Incas won! That was the beginning of the Inca Empire.
  • 6. GEOGRAPHY ANDES MOUNTAINS * North to south were the Andes Mountains - home of the Inca civilization. * The mountains dominated Incan society. * The mountain peaks were worshiped as gods.
  • 7. GEOGRAPHY * The Andes created a natural barrier between the coastal desert on one side and the jungle on the other. * The snow-capped mountains were full of deep gorges.
  • 8. GEOGRAPHY * The Inca built bridges across the gorges so they could reach all parts of their empire quickly and easily. * These mountain gorges were natural barriers. If an enemy approached, the Incas could simply burn the bridges.
  • 9. GEOGRAPHY AMAZON JUNGLE * On one side of the Andes was the Amazon jungle. * The Incas must have entered the jungle occasionally, as they did know about the many valuable things that could be found in the Amazon, like wood and fruit and natural medicines.
  • 10. GEOGRAPHY * But they never established settlements there. They had no desire to live in the jungle. * The Incas expanded north and south instead.
  • 11. GEOGRAPHY COASTAL DESERT * Between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean is a coastal desert 2000 miles long and between 30-100 miles wide.
  • 12. GEOGRAPHY * The desert provided a wonderful natural barrier. * There are fertile strips where small rivers and streams run from the Andes mountaintops to the sea.
  • 14. RELIGION * Practiced several polytheistic religions * Viracocha was the creator of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.
  • 15. GOVERNMENT Sapa Inca *Inca : means emperor *Sapa :means the only emperor - The Sapa Inca ruled everything and owned everything. The Inca was not just a ruler. The Inca was believed to be a direct descendant of the sun god, Inti.
  • 16. ARCHITECTURE * The Incas built the best planned cities in the ancient Americas. * Most Incan cities did not have walls around them. * The Incas build beautiful cities. * The architecture was formal yet simple.
  • 18. CONTRIBUTIONS Calendar * Each calendar month hosted a different religious festival. * The Incan calendar was divided into 12 months. Each month was divided into 3 weeks. Each week had 10 days.
  • 19. CONTRIBUTIONS Musical Instruments * They invented many wind and percussion instruments. * Drums and flutes were very popular. * The panpipe was the most popular.
  • 20. CONTRIBUTIONS Systems of Measurements: Quipus * Using a base of ten, the quipus had a main string about two feet long. * The quipus allowed messages to be carried by the Inca runners from one end of the empire to the other.
  • 21. ACHIEVEMENTS Important to the success of the Inca Empire: * Communication : roads, runners * Specialized Professions :engineers,metal workers, stone masons, other artisans
  • 22. ACHIEVEMENTS * Service Tax :huge free labor force * Technology : terrace farming, surplus crops, irrigation systems * Strong Central Government: all powerful Inca, strict laws, basic needs satisfied