Inca urbanism has a long history. Its great development took place in the Chavin period and had Tiahuanaco as its exponent. Stone is the basic element of construction in the higher regions, while on the coast an earth brick is used. In the north and center of the mountain ranges the "Cuzqueño" style prevails, while on the coast of Peru and Bolivia it becomes much rarer. These differences in urbanism suggest that the "political action in the territory of the Chimu State and of the great Aymara chiefdoms was weaker", as the French anthropologist Henri Favre observed.
Inca buildings, temples and palaces especially, were characterized by a heavy appearance. The trapezoidal openings guaranteed the majesty but did not soften the volume. The Incas, unlike the builders of the Chavin and Tiahuanaco culture, did not stand out for their sculptures.
As for the military constructions, the fortresses of Cuzco and the Urubamba valley stand out. They are admirable buildings for not having their builders of technical resources, such as the wheel for example. In spite of that they were used of great blocks of stone. The fits between the stones were perfect. One of the proofs of the builders' skill lies in the fact that these monumental walls resist earthquakes to this day.
The houses were circular, covered with straw or with a kind of stone vault. The entrance door was unique, being only covered by a skin or straw. However, what is most important to note, when studying the urbanism of the Andean area, is that the civil architecture of the Incas did not spread throughout the empire, unlike the architecture responsible for constructions with military or religious purposes.
The city of Machu Picchu in Peru is an admirable work. It is located at a height of 600 meters from the Urubamba River and occupies an area of 40 hectares. The forest preserved the city allowing studies on the forms of civil construction. The way it was built demonstrates the enormous skill of its builders. They are huge blocks of stone with which palaces, squares, fountains, aqueducts, staircases were built. The construction of some terraces served for agriculture and several walls on the edge of the slopes were supposed to protect the city. No documents from the time of the Spanish conquest refer to Machu Picchu. It wasn't until 1911 that an American archaeologist discovered the ruins, allowing to know a little more about a great city.
Inca Civilization
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