| The Emperor
One person ruled the empire at all times. The Incan empire only lasted for a little over one hundred years, but all of the emperors were from generations of one family. |
The Subjects
The Incas conquered small villages that were expected to be pay taxes to the emperor. Some villages were ruled by relatives of the emperor; other villages were let alone as long as they paid up! |
| The Currency
Earthly goods and wealth belonged to the empire. Inca people gave the empire taxes in the form of goods and labor. There was apparently no Inca money as we know it, but much of the commerce was done through a barter system. When there were famines and droughts, the empire's vast storage areas could provide for everyone. |
The
Religion
Everyone was expected to worship the same gods. Inti, the sun god, was most important to the Incans. The gods had absolute right to all people and goods., which they received through vengeful acts or human sacrifice. The emperor was considered to be the only son of the sun god--there was a temple to the sun god in every village. |
| The
Language
The imperial family created the empire by conquering other cities from their base city of Cuzco (KOOS-coh, sometimes spelled Qosqo). All Incans were expected to speak Quechua (KESH-wah), no matter what their native language was before they were conquered by the Incans. |
The RoadS
The average Incan was not allowed to travel on roads. There was one thoroughfare along the coast and one around the mountains. Crossroads connected the two to form a ladder-like highway. It was traveled by soldiers and messengers. This helped the Incans maintain mountain cities that were 15,000 feet above sea level. |