Kingdom of Cusco
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Cusco was a small kingdom in the Andes
that began as a small city-state founded by the Incas around the 12th century. In time, through either warfare or peaceful assimilation, it began to grow and was succeeded by the Inca Empire
.
, they formed the small city-state of Cusco (Quechua
Qosqo), shown in red on the map below.
In 1438 AD, under the command of the Sapa Inca (paramount leader) Pachacuti (world-shaker), the Incas began a far-reaching expansion. The land which Pachacuti conquered was about the size of the Thirteen Colonies
at the outbreak of the American Revolution
of 1776, and consisted of nearly the entire territory of the Andes mountain range.
Pachacuti reorganized the kingdom of Cusco into an empire, the Tahuantinsuyu, a federalist system
that consisted of a central government with the Inca at its head and four provincial governments with strong leaders: Chinchasuyu (NW), Antisuyu (NE), Kuntisuyu (SW), and Qullasuyu (SE). Pachacuti is thought to have built the citadel of Machu Picchu
, either as a family home or as a vacation estate.
, Sinchi Roca
, Lloque Yupanqui
, Mayta Cápac
, and Cápac Yupanqui
. Little is known of these early rulers, in later years cápac meant warlord and sinchi meant leader. The beginning of the dynasty is generally taken as about 1200 AD.
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
that began as a small city-state founded by the Incas around the 12th century. In time, through either warfare or peaceful assimilation, it began to grow and was succeeded by the Inca Empire
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...
.
History
The Inca people began as a tribe in the Cuzco area around the 12th century AD. Under the leadership of Manco CápacManco Capac
Manco Cápac was the legendary first Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco and a figure of Inca mythology. There are several versions of his origin story, which connect him to the foundation of Cusco.- Inti legend :In one myth, Manco Cápac was a son of the sun god Inti and Mama Quilla, and brother of...
, they formed the small city-state of Cusco (Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
Qosqo), shown in red on the map below.
In 1438 AD, under the command of the Sapa Inca (paramount leader) Pachacuti (world-shaker), the Incas began a far-reaching expansion. The land which Pachacuti conquered was about the size of the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
at the outbreak of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
of 1776, and consisted of nearly the entire territory of the Andes mountain range.
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
that consisted of a central government with the Inca at its head and four provincial governments with strong leaders: Chinchasuyu (NW), Antisuyu (NE), Kuntisuyu (SW), and Qullasuyu (SE). Pachacuti is thought to have built the citadel of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...
, either as a family home or as a vacation estate.
First dynasty
The Sapa Inca of the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Cusco were, in order, Manco CápacManco Capac
Manco Cápac was the legendary first Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco and a figure of Inca mythology. There are several versions of his origin story, which connect him to the foundation of Cusco.- Inti legend :In one myth, Manco Cápac was a son of the sun god Inti and Mama Quilla, and brother of...
, Sinchi Roca
Sinchi Roca
Sinchi Roca was the second Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco and a member of the Húrin dynasty...
, Lloque Yupanqui
Lloque Yupanqui
Lloque Yupanqui was the third Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco and a member of the Hurin dynasty. He was the son and successor of Sinchi Roca and the father of Mayta Cápac...
, Mayta Cápac
Mayta Capac
Mayta Cápac was the fourth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco and a member of the Hurin dynasty. As son of Lloque Yupanqui, he was his heir and the father of Cápac Yupanqui...
, and Cápac Yupanqui
Capac Yupanqui
Cápac Yupanqui was the fifth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco and the last of the Hurin dynasty. He was the son and successor of Mayta Cápac. His wife Mama Cusi Hilpay or Qorihillpay was the daughter of the lord of Anta, previously a great enemy of the Incas...
. Little is known of these early rulers, in later years cápac meant warlord and sinchi meant leader. The beginning of the dynasty is generally taken as about 1200 AD.