The Inca Empire free essay sample

The Inca Empire was a strong, community-based empire, relying solely on their land and environment to live. The Inca Empire faced a variety of issues throughout its establishment, the kingdom could have continued to be very successful, in spite of the unpleasant events taking place in the 1500’a and 1600’s. The Incans were hard workers who took pride in living off the land given to them. Being the first civilization to plant, harvest and cook potatoes, they were considered to be very good farmers. â€Å"In Inca times all tribes were on about the same technological level in their agriculture. Work was communal. † (Von Hagan, Victor W. , 1996) There was no proper taxing system, taxes were paid in labour, and in return people were given the basic necessities of life within the community. By not furthering the knowledge of straightforward, everyday activities and behaviour contributed to the downfall of the empire. Something so simple as using the wheel for farming to an advantage, was not thought of. We will write a custom essay sample on The Inca Empire or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Trade within the public wasn’t very customary due to the amount of land provided, it was more common to trade with other communities. Despite Incans not using advance technology, the balance in the labour tax system, and trade with other empires during this history time period contributed to semi-stability of the Inca Empire. The people among the empire had land to them and could produce their own food and necessities. Although, if the Inca’s had a legitimate market, other weapons and articles could have been traded to further the knowledge on using tools, to benefit them in the advancing of the society. The Incan centralized government was distinctive, based on Andean civilization and was run as a central monarchy. After Emperor Huayna Capac and his heir, died off the small pox, King Atahualpa had been appointed to the throne. This was before the epidemic had broken out among the commoners, and was still killing many members of the royal family of the Inca Empire. King Atahualpa was the last ruler of the Inca Empire before being invaded by Francisco Pizzaro. The Incans were the least advanced on class structure in their society, consisting of three classes; emperors, nobles, and commoners. Lacking an official army, when invaded the Incans had not put up the best fight. When the King was captured and held for ransom, a war broke out against the Incans and Pizzaro’s men. The Spanish were a lot more advanced in armed forces and threatened the community with weapons and artillery, thus causing a decrease in the evolving of the once powerful kingdom. Atahualpa offered gold to the Spaniards, but that was not good enough and Pizzaro heard rumors of another kingdom overtaking the Inca Empire, eventually Francisco Pizzaro ended up killing King Atahualpa. In July of 1533, they began hearing rumors that Ruminahui was approaching with a mighty army, summoned by the captive Emperor to wipe out the intruders. Pizarro and his men panicked. Accusing Atahualpa of treachery they sentenced him to burn at the stake, although he was eventually garroted. Atahualpa died on July 26, 1533 in Cajamarca. Ruminahuis army never came: the rumors had been false. † (Christopher M, 2004). The kingdom could have continued to thrive, if they’re most successful le ader had not been killed and if a change in class structure had been made. The Incan’s were clever people, inventing a variety of things people still use today an example would be freeze dried food and Terrance farming – despite the fact that there was no actual writing system for keeping records. â€Å"In the years following the conquest, the only chroniclers of the Incan culture lacked the objectivity and scientific interests needed for accurate accounts. In addition, they all held to a rigid belief in the literal truth of Biblical records† (Cameron, R. , 1998). Even though the Incan’s were very smart simple people, there healthcare configuration was very deprived. Diseases were constantly being spread throughout the kingdom, commonly among the Emperor Class Structure, and before the empire died out, there was an awful outbreak of small pox. â€Å"Once in Tumbez it was evident to Pizarro that the Incas were engaged in a civil war and that they were suffering from the first smallpox epidemic to reach the region. The smallpox epidemic claimed the life of the powerful Inca Emperor, Huayna Capac, and his heir apparent. The resulting power vacuum caused a political crisis within the empire. † (V. R LaLonde, 1999). To keep a family pure-bread, a royal only married their sisters, which also contributed to the amount of diseases spread throughout the empire, and is a main factor to the decline of the kingdom. Despite all of the factors that contributed to the fall of the Inca Empire, overall the kingdom deemed to be successful if it had not been so behind in technology, invaded and overtaken by disease. The empire was thriving, with good farming and a lot of jobs for people to have, it was a stable place to live and have a family. Unfortunately, being overtaken by a notorious, power hungry ruler can only result in downfall. Including a breakout of life threatening diseases, with poor healthcare systems to treat the epidemic can only produce a negative effect on a society. The Inca Empire was a strong, community-based empire, relying solely on their land and environment to live. If only the empire had been stronger and smarter; with there technology and education, in fighting the Spanish with a proper army, and fighting off the small pox epidemic, because the civilization could have continued to survive. Works Consulted †¢European Voyages of Exploration: The Inca Empire. Home | University of Calgary. The Applied History Research Group, n. d. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. . author unkown †¢Fall of The Inca Civilization. Crystalinks Home Page. N. p. , n. d. Web. 7 Apr. 2013. . †¢Hagan, Von, and Victor W.. INCAS. , VOL 12 . New York: P. F. Collier, Newfield Publications, Inc, 1996. Print. †¢Nishi, Dennis. The Inca empire. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2000. Print. †¢Bingham, Jane. The Inca empire. Chicago, Ill. : Raintree, 2007. Print.