- Archaeological evidence: Excavations of Inca sites have uncovered a wide variety of goods from different regions of the empire, including pottery, textiles, and metal objects. This suggests that the Inca were engaged in long-distance trade with a variety of different peoples.
- Written evidence: Spanish chroniclers who wrote about the Inca empire described their extensive trading networks. These accounts mention that the Inca traded with people from as far away as the Amazon rainforest and the Andes mountains.
- Oral traditions: Many indigenous peoples in South America still have oral traditions that speak of the Inca's trading networks. These stories often describe the Inca as being fair and honest traders who brought wealth and prosperity to the regions they visited.
Taken together, this evidence suggests that the Inca had extensive trading networks that connected them with a variety of different peoples throughout South America. These trading networks were essential to the Inca empire's economy and helped to spread Inca culture and influence throughout the region.