Last Incas Inca Empire

view of machu picchu

the spanish installed atahualpa s brother manco inca yupanqui in power; time manco cooperated spanish while fought put down resistance in north. meanwhile, associate of pizarro, diego de almagro, attempted claim cusco. manco tried use intra-spanish feud advantage, recapturing cusco in 1536, spanish retook city afterwards. manco inca retreated mountains of vilcabamba , established small neo-inca state, , successors ruled 36 years, raiding spanish or inciting revolts against them. in 1572 last inca stronghold conquered , last ruler, túpac amaru, manco s son, captured , executed. ended resistance spanish conquest under political authority of inca state.

after fall of inca empire many aspects of inca culture systematically destroyed, including sophisticated farming system, known vertical archipelago model of agriculture. spanish colonial officials used inca mita corvée labor system colonial aims, brutally. 1 member of each family forced work in gold , silver mines, foremost of titanic silver mine @ potosí. when family member died, happen within year or two, family required send replacement.

the effects of smallpox on inca empire more devastating. beginning in colombia, smallpox spread rapidly before spanish invaders first arrived in empire. spread aided efficient inca road system. within few years smallpox claimed between 60% , 94% of inca population, other waves of european disease weakening them further. smallpox first epidemic. typhus (probably) in 1546, influenza , smallpox in 1558, smallpox again in 1589, diphtheria in 1614, measles in 1618 – ravaged inca people.