- The Incas were a Native American civilization that flourished in the Andes region of South America from the 13th to the 16th century.
- The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas. At its height, it spanned over 2,000 miles from north to south and included parts of present-day Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
- The Incas were skilled builders and engineers. They constructed an extensive network of roads, bridges, and canals, as well as impressive temples, palaces, and fortresses.
- The Inca economy was based on agriculture. They grew a variety of crops, including maize, potatoes, and quinoa, and used llamas to transport goods.
- The Inca society was highly stratified. The emperor, or Sapa Inca, was considered to be divine and held absolute power. He was assisted by a council of nobles, and the empire was divided into provinces ruled by governors.
- The Incas had a rich cultural and religious life. They worshipped a pantheon of gods and goddesses, and their religious ceremonies often involved music, dance, and feasting.
- The Inca civilization was ended by the Spanish conquest of Peru in the 16th century. The Spanish brought with them diseases, such as smallpox and measles, which decimated the Inca population. The Spanish also destroyed many Inca temples and palaces, and the Inca Empire was eventually incorporated into the Spanish Empire.