Rise

The Inca Empire began high in the Andes Mountains of South America. At first, the Inca were a small group living near the city of Cusco. Life in the mountains was hard, but this helped the Inca become strong, organized, and determined.

The Inca were ruled by a powerful leader called the Sapa Inca, which means “the one true ruler.” People believed the Sapa Inca was the son of the Sun God, so his words were seen as commands from the gods. Because of this belief, people obeyed him and worked together for the good of the empire.

The Inca Empire was carefully organized. It was divided into four large regions, all meeting at Cusco, the capital. Each region pointed in a different direction and represented the four parts of the world — north, south, east, and west. This showed that the Sapa Inca ruled over the entire world as the Inca understood it.

The Inca were also strong warriors. Their army was well trained and organized. Soldiers used clubs, spears, slings, and shields, and wore padded armor. When the Inca conquered new lands, they often allowed people to keep their customs as long as they obeyed Inca rule. This helped the empire grow quickly and stay united.

Through strong leadership, careful planning, and teamwork, the Inca built the largest empire in the Americas, stretching thousands of miles through the mountains.