Q: Who were the Incas?
The Incas were a Quechua-speaking empire along the length of the Andes from Ecuador to northern Argentina. The Incas arrived in that region in 1400, but it wasn't long before the Spanish showed up in 1532.
Q: Why were they called the Incas?
El Inca was the head of Inca society.
Q: What did they believe?
Travelers might be familiar with Cuzco, the city in Peru; to the Incas, however, El Cusco was the name used to refer to a sacred place. In fact, the Incas believed that mountains were actually gods or holy places, where people would go after death.
Travelers might be familiar with Cuzco, the city in Peru; to the Incas, however, El Cusco was the name used to refer to a sacred place. In fact, the Incas believed that mountains were actually gods or holy places, where people would go after death.
(I've almost felt that religious awe sometimes, looking up at mountains in Alaska.)
Q: What language did the Incas speak?
Their language is Quechua, which some people still speak today. I present my extensive research on the Quechua language:
Huasi, "house of"
Inti, "sun"
Thus in Salta there is a hostel named Inti Huasi, "House of the Sun."
Q: Didn't they perform human sacrifice? Why would anyone do something so disgusting and wrong?
Human sacrifice was part of Inca culture, but the details are fascinating. The most beautiful children, those totally free of physical defect, were gathered up from all over the empire. They traveled to the Cusco, then made the arduous return trip in a straight line, forcing them to cross whatever obstacles stood in their way. They were buried alive. The idea was that the community would receive health and prosperity in return for the sacrificed lives. The Incas gave the very best they had, their most beautiful children, because they hoped to be paid back in equal measure by the gods. These rites of sacrifice also served a practical function, bonding remote parts of the Inca empire to the center at Cusco.
Human sacrifice was part of Inca culture, but the details are fascinating. The most beautiful children, those totally free of physical defect, were gathered up from all over the empire. They traveled to the Cusco, then made the arduous return trip in a straight line, forcing them to cross whatever obstacles stood in their way. They were buried alive. The idea was that the community would receive health and prosperity in return for the sacrificed lives. The Incas gave the very best they had, their most beautiful children, because they hoped to be paid back in equal measure by the gods. These rites of sacrifice also served a practical function, bonding remote parts of the Inca empire to the center at Cusco.
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