Inca Geography
This major mountain range was the heart of the Inca Empire.
What is the Andes Mountains
The supreme ruler of the Inca Empire.
Who is the Sapa Inca?
The Inca built thousands of miles of these to connect their empire.
What are roads?
This animal was essential for carrying goods.
What is a llama?
Because they lacked a written language, the Inca used this to record numbers.
What is a quipu?
This ocean bordered the Inca Empire to the west.
What is the Pacific Ocean?
The Sapa Inca was believed to be the son of this god.
Who is Inti, the sun god?
These carried water from mountain springs into cities and terraces.
What are aqueducts?
Most Inca people made a living by doing this.
What is farming?
The Inca kept their large empire united using roads and fast _________.
What are runners?
The Inca built terraces mainly to adapt to this geographic problem.
What is steep mountain terrain?
This official traveled the empire to enforce laws and collect taxes.
Who is He‑Who‑Sees‑Everything?
Stones in Inca walls were cut so precisely that they did NOT need this material.
What is mortar?
This family‑based community group organized Inca society.
What is an ayllu?
A runner would do this while running alongside the new, rested messenger.
What is repeat the message that is to be passed along without stopping?
These deep valleys with roaring rivers made travel difficult.
What are gorges?
The Inca used this system to count their population.
What is a census?
These bridges, woven from plant fibers, allowed the Inca to cross deep gorges.
What are rope or grass suspension bridges?
The Inca provided goods to the Sapa Inca through this labor‑based tax.
What is tribute or labor tax (mit’a)?
These small stations provided shelter for messengers.
What are tambos?
This city high in the mountains was used as a royal retreat and fortress.
What is Machu Picchu?
A tool of knotted cords used for record‑keeping.
What is a quipu?
The Inca built terraces not only for farming but also to prevent this destructive natural process.
What is erosion?
Inca relay runners could carry messages up to this many miles a day.
What is 150 miles per day?
Because information could travel so quickly, this helped prevent rebellions.
What is maintaining strict control across the empire?