Learn all about the rise and fall of the Inca Empire, from their vast territory in South America to their encounter with Spanish conquistadores. Explore their social structure, agricultural practices, textile traditions, and legacy through engaging discussions with expert guests and entertaining quizzes.
Inca Empire expansion through alliances, conquests, and strategic marriages fueled rapid growth.
Limited insights into Inca culture due to absence of firsthand Inca accounts; reliance on Spanish records and oral history.
Inca society featured gender roles post-puberty, with women holding power in religious practices and governance.
Deep dives
Inca Empire Origins and Expansion
The Inca Empire emerged around the 1400s in central southern Peru, with Cusco as its central city. Despite being seen as ancient, they were contemporaneous with the Tudor period in Europe. The empire rapidly expanded, incorporating areas from Ecuador to Chile. This growth was fueled by alliances, conquests, and strategic marriages.
Challenges in Understanding Inca Society
Understanding Inca society poses challenges as they did not have a writing system. Accounts of their civilization mainly come from Spanish records and oral history. The absence of firsthand Inca accounts limits insights into their culture, leadership, and daily life. Archaeological findings provide structural details but lack personal narratives and historical depth.
Inca Social Structure and Daily Life
In Inca society, individuals within ethnic groups lived in small communities, engaging in shared labor and resources. Children learned skills and gained status based on contributions rather than age. Gender roles were established post-puberty. Women held positions of power and played key roles in religious practices and governance. Beer brewing, textile production, and agricultural practices were essential aspects of Inca daily life.
The Significance of Gold and Silver in Inca Society
Gold and silver held significant ornamental value in Inca society, with gold referred to as the 'sweat of the sun' and silver as the 'tears of the moon'. The Incas used these precious metals for various purposes, including creating ornate ornaments, such as elaborate ear plugs. Despite having copper alloys for practical uses, the Incas valued gold and silver for their aesthetic appeal and symbolic meanings, reflecting their cultural and religious beliefs.
Machu Picchu and Its Role in Inca Civilization
Machu Picchu, often romanticized and glorified, served as a prestigious hub within the Inca Empire. Positioned beautifully with river surroundings, Machu Picchu was likely a religious and elite center. While commonly portrayed as a fortress in popular culture, it was part of Pachacuti's royal estate and featured structures of significant religious importance. The site offered stunning stonework and agricultural terraces, embodying both beauty and functionality within Inca society.
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Bill Sillar and comedian Sue Perkins to learn all about the South American Inca empire. At their height, the Inca controlled a vast territory from their base in Peru, one that stretched down the mountainous west coast of the continent, from Ecuador all the way down to Argentina. But the empire barely lasted for a century. Beginning in the mid-fifteenth century, it fell in the 1530s with the arrival of Spanish conquistadores, led by Pizarro. This episode goes beyond famous sites like Machu Picchu and explores all aspects of Incan life, death – and taxes! Along the way, it takes in social and family structures, food and drink, religious practices, art and architecture.
[The podcast version of this episode has been edited slightly to amend an incorrect reference to the weight of the stones carried from Cuzco to Ecuador]
Research by: Andrew Himmelberg
Written by: Andrew Himmelberg, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Audio Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Caitlin Hobbs
Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
