Visit Peru - Seat of the Incan Civilization

The birth of the Inca Civilization is hard to trace back since no written evidence, but oral tradition, pottery, woven tapestry, gold and silver jewelry and stone are the only vestiges of the past. However it is known that it was 1438 that they started their expansion and their origin as a nation is assumed to the year 1250. The Incas had three origin myths. In one of them Manco Capac's and Mama Ocllo's son, Sinchi Roca, is born and leads them to the valley of Cuzco where they found their new village. Another myth says that the sun god Inti ordered Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo to rise from the depths of the Lake Titicaca and find the town Cuzco, a command which they fulfill and this way they establish Hurin Cuzco, the first Inca dynasty. The third myth says that the sun god was lonely and his wife suggested creating a civilization to worship him and keep him from being lonely. The sun god appreciated the idea and this way the Incas were born from the Cuzco Lake and they populated the Andean area and worshiped their god.

1438, led by Sapa Inca, the Incas started an amazing quest and managed to conquer almost the entire Andean area. Pachacuti, Sapa Inca's successor, reorganized the Cuzco kingdom and formed an empire he called Tahuantinsuyu, which was organized in a federalist system. Pachacuti had a very cunning way of expanding his territory. He sent out spies to the territories he strived for, who informed him about the political organization, the military strength and the richness of the particular territories. Afterwards he sent messages to the leaders of the territories in which he showed how their lives would be improved if they were part of the Inca Empire. He also offered them expensive gifts such as high quality fabrics and promised them a wealthier life under the Inca domination. Then, most of them agreed peacefully to the generous offer and the leader's sons were brought to Cuzco and taught the Inca administrative system and afterwards returned to rule their own countries.