The Inca Empire and European Colonization

Flashcards focusing on key concepts related to the Inca Empire, its formation, societal structure, and interaction with European colonization.

Inca Empire

A large empire in South America, centered in Cusco, formed by Pachacuti around the 15th century.

Pachacuti

The ninth ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco who transformed it into the Inca Empire through aggressive expansion.

Tawantesuyu

The name used by the Incas for their empire, referring to the four regions they conquered, with Cusco at the center.

Mit'a system

The labor tax system used by the Incas, requiring members of society to dedicate a proportion of their labor to the state.

Machu Picchu

A significant Inca site believed to be built as an estate for Pachacuti, showcasing the empire's advanced construction techniques.

Spanish Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors, such as Francisco Pizarro, who overthrew the Inca Empire with superior weaponry and tactics.

Aztec Empire

A prominent empire in Mesoamerica that formed around the same time as the Inca Empire, characterized by its own distinct civilization.

Pre-Inca civilizations

Cultures and societies that existed in the Andean region before the rise of the Inca Empire.

European conquest

The period during which European powers, particularly Spain, colonized large areas of the Americas, ending many indigenous empires.

Rulers

The term 'Inca' actually means 'ruler' in their own language, as they did not originally call themselves the Incas.