Paper 1, Prescribed Subject 2: Conquest and its Impact The conquest of Peru

Ancestor worship: Central to Inca religion, this practice viewed deceased rulers as retaining spiritual power. Mummies of past Sapa Incas were consulted for political guidance and honored through rituals, reinforcing social hierarchy and expansion efforts.

The Andes: This mountain range delineates the geography of the Inca Empire, isolating regions and complicating communications. It necessitated advanced engineering solutions, such as terraced farming, and provided natural defenses against invasions, albeit with challenges for internal governance.

Atahualpa: The last effective Sapa Inca who won a civil war against his half-brother Huáscar before Spanish contact. Captured in a surprise attack by Pizarro at Cajamarca, he offered a massive ransom for his release but was ultimately executed by the Spaniards.

Cuzco: The symbolic and administrative capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco represented legitimate authority and was pivotal for governance and ritual. Its occupancy by the Spanish disrupted Inca political unity.

Francisco Pizarro: A Spanish conquistador lacking formal education who led the conquest of the Inca Empire. He exploited Inca division following a civil war, capturing Atahualpa through deception and superior weaponry despite being outnumbered.

Incan Civil War: A conflict between Huáscar and Atahualpa, stemming from succession disputes post-Huayna Capac's death. This war weakened the empire, leaving it fragmented and vulnerable to Spanish conquest.

Mit’a system: A system that required communities to provide labor for public projects, thus bypassing a monetary economy. While essential for infrastructure, it imposed heavy demands on people, which became exploitable post-conquest.

Mitma system: This forced resettlement policy relocated conquered peoples to unify the empire and promote economic productivity. However, it often disrupted local identities and led to resentment towards the Inca.

Road network: Spanning over 30,000 kilometers, this extensive system facilitated rapid communication, movement, and administration. Its later exploitation by the Spaniards played a key role during the conquest.

Split inheritance: An Incan succession system where political power passed to a successor while wealth and lands remained with the deceased's descendants. This process encouraged continuous territorial expansion, contributing to internal competition and instability before Spanish arrival.

Quechua: The primary language of the Inca Empire, utilized for administration and trade, which aided in unifying diverse conquered peoples. It remains spoken by millions today, including the spread of Christianity through its use by missionaries.

Quipu: A record-keeping system of knotted cords managing census data and resource distribution. While not a written language, quipus enabled intricate administrative control, often dismissed by Spaniards as primitive.