The Inca Empire, known to its own people as Tawantinsuyu, was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, incorporating a large portion of western South America centered on the Andean Mountains between 1438 and 1533 through a mix of conquest and peaceful assimilation. Ruled from the capital Cusco by a divine absolute monarch called the Sapa Inca, it governed a vast, ethnically diverse territory through a network of roads, a relay messenger system and a labor tax called the mit'a rather than a market economy. The empire fell to Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro beginning in 1532, though the last independent Inca state held out until 1572.
Facts
Government TypeDivine absolute monarchy 1 Government type (class) Government type (class) Classification
Status (Extant or Former) Connections
Associated With
Caused By
Additional Source Wikipedia: Francisco PizarroLead section, expeditions leading to the Spanish conquest
In Era
Related To
Additional Source Wikipedia: Spanish conquest of the Inca EmpireLead section (edge: related-to Inca Empire)
Ruled By
Source Wikipedia: Pachacuti
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Society and Culture Atlas: Monarchy, government type there.
- Also in Society and Culture Atlas: Theocracy, government type there.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Inca Empire
WikipediaLead section
From 1438 to 1533, the Incas incorporated a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean Mountains, using conquest and peaceful assimilation.
Infobox
Divine absolute monarchy
The Inca Empire: Status
The empire fell to Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro beginning in 1532, though the last independent Inca state held out until 1572.
View the Source Wikipedia: Francisco Pizarro
WikipediaCaused By: Francisco Pizarro, Lead section, expeditions leading to the Spanish conquestQuote, Caused By: Francisco Pizarro, Lead section, expeditions leading to the Spanish conquest
was a Spanish conquistador, best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire
Wikipedia: Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire
WikipediaRelated To: Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire, Lead section (edge: related-to Inca Empire)Quote, Related To: Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire, Lead section (edge: related-to Inca Empire)
The conquest of the Inca Empire, led to spin-off campaigns into present-day Chile and Colombia, as well as expeditions to the Amazon Basin and the surrounding rainforest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Inca Empire govern such a large territory without a market economy?
Through roads a relay messenger system and the mit'a labor tax rather than markets.
The Inca ruled from the capital Cusco under a divine absolute monarch called the Sapa Inca. Instead of markets they relied on a network of roads, a relay messenger system and a labor tax called the mit'a to move people, goods and orders across a vast and ethnically diverse territory. The empire had grown between 1438 and 1533 through a mix of conquest and peaceful assimilation.
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