inca

Everyday

1. The Incas were a people of the Andes mountains in South America who built a huge empire with its capital at Cusco, in today's Peru. tree →
2. The Inca was also the title of their emperor, the ruler of the empire. tree →
3. Inca or Incan describes things from this people and empire: Inca roads, Inca gold. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons the Incas are studied as a great civilization of the Americas: they built Machu Picchu, about 40,000 km of roads with rope bridges, and stone walls so exact that a knife blade cannot fit between the stones. They kept records with knotted strings called quipu, grew potatoes on terraces, and spoke Quechua, which millions still speak. Spanish conquerors led by Francisco Pizarro defeated the empire. Phrases: «the Inca Empire», «the Inca Trail», «Inca gold».

Examples

• The Incas built Machu Picchu high in the Andes. tree →
• Inca runners carried messages along stone roads. tree →
• The Inca ruled from the city of Cusco. tree →
• The Incas recorded numbers with knots on strings called quipu. tree →
• Spanish soldiers came looking for Inca gold. tree →
• Inca farmers grew hundreds of kinds of potato. tree →
• Walkers hike the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu. tree →

Note

Write it with a capital: Inca, Incas. Adjective: «Inca» or «Incan». Trap: do not mix up the Incas (Peru, Andes) with the Aztecs (Mexico) and the Maya (Central America). The Incas had no written alphabet as we know it; quipu stored numbers and information.