Inca Empire

Start of a Civilization

1150

The Killke culture occupies the Cusco valley region.

Creation of Sacsayhuamán.

1300

The Killke may have built the site of Sacsayhuamán, according to a Carbon-14, approximately 2 kilometers of Cusco.

Creation of Cusco

1350

The construction of the Kingdom of Cusco, initially a small city-state, was supervised by the Inca warlord Manco Capac.

Attempted invasion of the Chanka tribe

1438

The Chanca tribe, a “powerful warlike confederation” , attacks the city of Cusco as it attempts an aggressive expansion to the south, Sources differ as to the role of the Sapa Inca, Viracocha, at the time of the invasion. Some claim he fled, while others argue that he led the heroic defence of the city. In the former version of events, Viracocha’s son, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (or Pachacutec), remained in Cusco and fought off the Chanca attack.

Pachacuti becomes the new Sapa Inca.

1440

Pachacuti becomes the new Sapa Inca, after his successful defense of the city. Under Pachacuti, the Incas begin a period of rapid expansion under a new governmental system and a determined leader.

Pachacuti Inca founds Machu Picchu in the High Andes.

1450

Machu Picchu (in Quechua Machu Pikchu, "old mountain"), Is probably the most typical symbol of the Inca Empire, because of its original location, In the middle of the mountains, the temples and houses are distributed in an organized manner, streets and taking advantage of the space with staircases. There are several theories about Machu Picchu's function, the most accepted one is that it was built with the objective of science research and the purpose of sheltering the Inca sovereign, in attack.

Territory Extension

1463

Túpac Inca Yupanqui (Pachacuti son), was placed in charge of the Inca army. Túpac Inca pushes the borders of the Inca Empire to new extremes, heading north into Ecuador after securing vast swathes of central and northern Peru.

Death of Pachacuti

1471

Pachacuti dies two years later. Prior to his death, he choses Túpac Inca as his successor instead of his elder son, Amaru Yupanqui. The new Sapa Inca continues his father’s expansionist policies, pushing south into Bolivia, chile and northern Argentina. In the photo the supposed tomb of Pachacuti.

America's Discovered

1492

Christopher Columbus discovers America.

Inca Civil War and Spanish Arrival

1515

Conquest of the Aztecs.

1519

Hernán Cortés begins his conquest of the Aztecs in Mexico. Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador, best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 1521 and claiming Mexico for Spain

Second expedition arrives in the north coast of Peru.

1527

The second expedition of Francisco Pizarro arrives in Tumbes on the north coast of Peru.

Permission to Conquer Peru

1529

The Spanish Crown gives Pizarro permission to conquer Peru, he started his third expedition to Peru

Atahualpa Wins a decisive battle.

1532

Atahualpa wins a decisive battle against Huáscar at the Battle of Quipaipan. The civil war ends, but a new threat has already landed on the north coast of Peru.

Conquistadors capture Atahualpa.

1532

Francisco Pizarro and his small force of conquistadors capture Atahualpa in Cajamarca on November 16. The Sapa Inca is held for ransom before being killed.

The Execution on Atahualpa.

1533

On July 26, the Spaniards execute Atahualpa. They install Túpac Huallpa as the new Inca ruler, but he dies just months after his succession.

The first Spaniards enter Cusco

1534

The first Spaniards enter Cusco. In December, Pizarro makes Manco Inca Yupanqui the new puppet ruler of the Inca Empire.

Creation of Lima

1535

Pizzaro Creates Today's Capital of Peru, Lima Originally Called “Ciudad de los Reyes,” or “City of Kings

Vilcabamba becomes the new Inca capital.

1537

Manco Inca leads an uprising, laying siege to Cusco. Despite victory over the Spanish forces in the Battle of Ollantaytambo, Manco Inca is forced to flee following the arrival of Spanish reinforcements. With Cusco fallen to the Spaniards, Vilcabamba becomes the new Inca capital, an isolated independent state and a refuge for the remnants of the royal family. At this stage, just 100 years after its foundation, the Inca Empire had crumbled and disappeared as a ruling power.

Renegade Spaniards murder Manco Inca.

1544

A group of renegade Spaniards murder Manco Inca. These same Spaniards had arrived at Vilcabamba as fugitives and were given sanctuary by Manco. The Incas at Vilcabamba had engaged in guerrilla activities against the Spaniards. With their leader gone, all significant resistance ends.

The Fall of Inca Empire.

1572

Francisco Toledo, the new Viceroy of Peru (Pizarro had been assassinated by rival Spaniards in 1541), declares war on Vilcabamba. The independent state is sacked and the last Sapa Inca, Túpac Amaru, is captured. The Spaniards take Túpac Amaru to Cusco, where he is beheaded in a public execution. The fall of the Inca Empire is complete.