Inca Empire

The Incas are an American Indian of Peru who in the two centuries before the Spanish found America, conquered an area stretching from the southern-border of present day Colombia to central Chile. They were located in the center of a city in the Peruvian Andes. The Inca empire included the coastal and mountain ranges of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the northern areas of Chile and Argentina. Their title "Inca"  was the name of an Indian emperor.  Their language was Quechua. The language they spoke before Quechua became their official language is still not known. The Inca had one real life, but still maintained a menage of royal concubines. The Inca empire was like a pyramid with the Sapa Inca at top. The empire was divided into 4 regions ruled by men called opas. In order to help rule their vast empire, the Incas built an efficient network of roads. The Incas were polytheists, which means they worshiped many gods. The three most important gods for them were Inti, Quillia, and Illapa. It is said that the Incas worshiped these gods, because they believed they controlled the sun, the moon, and the rain. 

Inca Food

In the lowlands of the Incas, the main food was maize. In the highlands of the Incas, it was potatoes. They also ate peanuts and quinoa, a grain. The Incas sometimes used llamas and alpacas for meat, but they mainly used these animals for wool and carrying loads. They also ate guinea pigs, birds, and fish. Meat was a luxury to the Incas.

Inca Houses

The houses of the Incas were very simple. Most of their houses consisted of one room. Their homes had no real furniture, but did have reed mats or animal skins that they sat and slept on.

Inca Clothing

The Inca clothing was made of wool that they got from the llamas and alpacas. Sometimes it was made of cotton. 

Inca Children

The Inca children were treated harshly to toughen them. If they misbehaved, they were severely punished. At about age 10, the most beautiful girls were selected to be chosen women or Aqllakuna