AMÉRICA PRECOLOMBINA 5: Chimor, Sicán, Aimara y los Incas (Documental Historia de Perú prehispánico)

Summary

The Inca Empire, once a powerful civilization in South America, rose from the Andean highlands and flourished through military expansion, advanced architecture, and a complex social system. Legendary rulers like Pachacutec helped expand the empire, which was divided into four regions and governed with precision. Despite internal conflicts and the devastating arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the Incas fiercely resisted, with Manco Capac II and later Tupac Amaru leading resistance efforts. Ultimately, the empire fell after Tupac Amaru’s capture and execution, marking the end of a remarkable civilization.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Inca Empire was a vast and advanced civilization that spanned much of South America, including modern-day Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina.
• 😀 The empire was incredibly well-organized, with a system of roads, bridges, and advanced agricultural techniques that allowed it to thrive in the mountainous terrain.
• 😀 The Inca Empire was centralized around the city of Cusco, which served as both the political and religious capital.
• 😀 The Inca Empire’s decline began with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, in the 16th century.
• 😀 In 1532, the Spanish captured the Inca Emperor, Atahualpa, and executed him, which marked a significant blow to the empire's power structure.
• 😀 After Atahualpa’s death, the Spanish began to take control of Inca territories, culminating in the fall of Cusco in November 1533.
• 😀 Pizarro founded Lima, the City of the Kings, in 1535, further establishing Spanish dominance in the region.
• 😀 Despite the fall of Cusco, Manco Capac II, the Inca leader, managed to escape and formed a large army to fight back against the Spanish invaders.
• 😀 The Inca and Spanish forces engaged in a prolonged conflict for control of Cusco, but the Inca were ultimately forced to retreat to the mountains.
• 😀 Manco Capac II eventually founded the Neo-Inca Empire in Vilcabamba, where it persisted until 1572, when the last Inca ruler, Tupac Amaru, was captured and executed, bringing the Inca Empire to an end.

Q & A

What happened to the Inca Empire after the Spanish arrived?

The Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, starting with the capture of Cusco in November 1533. Pizarro founded the City of the Kings (now Lima), marking the decline of the Inca civilization.

Who was Manco Capac II and what role did he play after the fall of the Inca Empire?

Manco Capac II was an Inca ruler who managed to escape the Spanish in 1536. He formed a large army to fight the Spanish for control of Cusco and later retreated to the mountains, establishing the Neo-Inca Empire in Vilcabamba.

What was the Neo-Inca Empire and when did it exist?

The Neo-Inca Empire was a continuation of the Inca state, founded by Manco Capac II after he fled to the mountains in 1537. It lasted until 1572, maintaining resistance against the Spanish.

Who was Tupac Amaru, and what was his significance in the final stages of the Inca Empire?

Tupac Amaru was the last Inca ruler of the Neo-Inca Empire. He was captured by the Spanish in 1572 and executed by beheading, marking the definitive end of the Inca resistance.

How did the Spanish manage to defeat the Inca Empire despite its vast size?

The Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, capitalized on internal conflicts within the Inca Empire, including a civil war between Atahualpa and Huáscar, as well as technological advantages like firearms and horses.

What happened to the Inca capital, Cusco, after its fall?

After Cusco fell to the Spanish in 1533, it became an important colonial city for the Spanish. Pizarro established Lima as the capital of the Spanish territories in Peru.

Why did Manco Capac II flee to the mountains after initially resisting the Spanish?

Manco Capac II fled to the mountains after being unable to hold Cusco against the Spanish forces. There, he formed the Neo-Inca Empire to continue resisting Spanish rule.

What was the fate of the Inca Empire's leadership after the fall of Vilcabamba?

After the fall of Vilcabamba in 1572, the last Inca ruler, Tupac Amaru, was captured and executed, marking the complete subjugation of the Inca Empire by the Spanish.

How long did the Inca Empire survive under Spanish control?

The Inca Empire officially fell in 1533 with the capture of Cusco, but remnants of Inca resistance, such as the Neo-Inca Empire, survived until 1572.

What role did the city of Lima play in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire?

Lima, founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, became the capital of Spanish Peru and served as a key base of operations for the Spanish in their conquest and control of the region.