The Inca was powerful indigenous (native) group from South America. They built a large empire in South America that extended through the Andes Mountains and along the west coast. By 1525, the empire stretched 2,600 miles. They were excellent architects and engineers and built a large network of roads and bridges. (See middle image for greatest accomplishments.) These helped their strong central government control even the most distant parts of the empire. The Inca believed in many gods.

Question

The Inca was powerful indigenous (native) group from South America. They built a large empire in South America that extended through the Andes Mountains and along the west coast. By 1525, the empire stretched 2,600 miles. They were excellent architects and engineers and built a large network of roads and bridges. (See middle image for greatest accomplishments.) These helped their strong central government control even the most distant parts of the empire. The Inca believed in many gods. 
	The Spanish came to South America in 1532 looking for gold. Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas by 1533, destroying cities, taking valuable resources, and killing many Incans.
Who were the Inca?

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The Inca were a powerful indigenous group from South America, known for establishing one of the largest empires in pre-Columbian America. Their empire, known as the Inca Empire, was centered in what is now Peru and extended through the Andes Mountains, reaching parts of modern-day Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. By the year 1525, the Inca Empire spanned approximately 2,600 miles.

The Inca were remarkable architects and engineers, famous for their advanced construction techniques. They built a vast network of roads and bridges that facilitated communication and transportation across their diverse and often mountainous territory. This infrastructure played a crucial role in enabling their centralized government to effectively manage and control the distant regions of their empire.

Culturally, the Inca practiced polytheism, worshipping a variety of gods associated with natural elements and agricultural fertility. Their society was highly organized, with a strong emphasis on agricultural production, social hierarchy, and labor systems.

However, the Inca Empire faced a devastating invasion from Spanish conquerors led by Francisco Pizarro in 1532. Pizarro and his forces conquered the Incas by 1533, leading to the destruction of cities, the seizure of valuable resources, and significant loss of life among the Incan population. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the region and the decline of the Inca civilization.