The Inca Empire fell quickly due to a combination of factors including civil war, the arrival of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro, and the spread of European diseases like smallpox which devastated the population.
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The fall of the Inca Empire can be attributed to a culmination of various factors that led to its rapid decline. Among the key reasons were civil war, the arrival of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro, and the devastating impact of European diseases like smallpox on the native population.
Civil war played a significant role in weakening the Inca Empire even before the Spanish conquest. Following the death of Emperor Huayna Capac in 1527, a dispute regarding his successor led to a destructive war between his two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar. This internal conflict significantly weakened the empire, dividing the loyalty and military strength of the Inca people.
The arrival of Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, further contributed to the downfall of the Inca Empire. Pizarro and his men arrived in Inca territory in 1532, taking advantage of the empire’s weakened state. With superior weaponry, tactics, and the assistance of indigenous allies who were enemies of the Incas, the Spanish carried out a swift and brutal conquest. In a famous confrontation between Atahualpa and Pizarro, the Inca ruler was captured, and despite receiving a massive ransom in gold and silver, he was ultimately executed by the Spanish. This event marked a significant turning point in the conquest of the Inca Empire.
The introduction of European diseases to the American continent, particularly smallpox, also played a devastating role in the rapid collapse of the Inca Empire. As a society isolated from Europe, the Inca people had no immunity to such diseases. When the Spanish arrived, they unknowingly brought diseases that rapidly spread among the native population. Smallpox, in particular, caused widespread death and decimated the once-thriving Inca society. The Inca people had no prior exposure to such diseases and lacked the means to combat them effectively.
To support the explanation, here is a quote from Jared Diamond, a renowned author and professor:
“People of Native American ancestry in modern Peru largely descend from the Incas, although they mixed with the native peoples conquered by them. The diseases that spread into Peru with the arrival of the Spanish wiped out millions of those native peoples, and population numbers have not since recovered.”
Interesting facts about the fall of the Inca Empire:
- The civil war between the two Inca brothers, Atahualpa and Huascar, lasted several years and significantly weakened the empire prior to the Spanish conquest.
- The Spanish conquistadors, under Francisco Pizarro, numbered only around 180 men, yet they managed to defeat the Inca Empire which had thousands of soldiers.
- Atahualpa, the Inca ruler, was captured by the Spanish despite having a significantly larger army at his disposal.
- The ransom offered by Atahualpa to secure his release from the Spanish was a room filled with gold and two with silver. However, the Spanish executed him anyways, illustrating their ruthlessness.
- The devastating impact of diseases brought by the Spanish, such as smallpox, caused the population of the Inca Empire to decline rapidly, contributing to its final collapse.
Table:
| Factors contributing to the fall of the Inca Empire |
|---|
| Civil war among Inca rulers |
| Arrival of Spanish conquistadors |
| Devastating impact of European diseases |
| Superior weapons and tactics of the Spanish |
Response via video
The Inca Empire, the largest empire in the Western Hemisphere, spanned over 900,000 square kilometers and had a population of almost 10 million subjects. The empire rose to prominence under the rule of Pachacuti, who expanded Inca rule in the Andes mountains. However, by the end of the 15th century, the empire was strained due to social and political unrest and was ultimately defeated and destroyed by Spanish conquistadors after a civil war and the capture of their king, Atahualpa. Some Incas retreated to a new capital at Vilcabamba and resisted for 40 years but were ultimately defeated, leading to the destruction of much of the empire’s physical and cultural legacy. The Inca Empire fell faster than it had risen.
I found more answers on the Internet
The main view is that the Inca were eventually defeated due to inferior weapons, ‘open battle’ tactics, disease, internal unrest, the bold tactics of the Spanish, and the capture of the Inca’s Emperor.
7 Reasons the Conquistadors Beat the Incas
- Civil War The fall of the Incas came in part because they were at their weakest for at least a decade.
Despite these advances, the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 1500s soon set into motion the events that would lead to the collapse of the Inca Empire. The Spanish carried such alien diseases as smallpox and influenza, which wiped out a huge chunk of the population before killing Huayna Capac and his chosen successor around 1525.
The fall of the Inca Empire
- The spread of disease The collapse of the Inca Empire started when the Spaniards arrived in Central America and transmitted their diseases to locals who spread them to other parts of the continent including South America.
You will most likely be intrigued
When did the Inca Empire fall and why?
The Inca Empire began in 1438 as it began to conquer its neighbors. It ended in 1533 when Francisco Pizarro of Spain defeated Atahualpa and took the capital of Cusco. The last emperor, Tupac Amaru, was captured and executed in 1572.
What are three factors that led to the fall of the Inca Empire?
As a response to this: Four Factors That Led to the Fall of the Inca Empire.
- Disease.
- Guns and Horses.
- The capture of Atahualpa.
- Internal Problems.
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What ended the Inca Empire?
Response: Atahuallpa, the 13th and last emperor of the Incas, dies by strangulation at the hands of Francisco Pizarro’s Spanish conquistadors. The execution of Atahuallpa, the last free reigning emperor, marked the end of 300 years of Inca civilization.
What led to the rise and fall of the Inca civilization?
Answer: The Incan Empire ended after the arrival of the Spanish in the 1520s. They were first weakened by disease that spread from Spanish possessions in Central America. It is estimated that between 50% to 90% of the population was killed by diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza.
What helped the Inca control its empire?
The emperor ruled with the aid of an aristocratic bureaucracy, exercising authority with harsh and often repressive controls. Inca technology and architecture were highly developed, although not strikingly original. Their irrigation systems, palaces, temples, and fortifications can still be seen throughout the Andes.
Why did the Spaniards want to conquer the Inca?
As an answer to this: Why did the Spanish conquistadors want to conquer the Aztecs and the Incas? List 3. (mostly page 33, but also 31-32 and 34-35) The Spanish wanted to take gold from the Aztecs and the Incas. The Spanish wanted to spread the word of the Catholic god. The Spanish wanted to get glory, or fame, for having conquered land for the King of Spain.
Why did Fransisco Pizarro take over the ICAN Empire?
The answer is: According to The Biography Channel, Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro was able to defeat the Inca easily because the Incans were embroiled in their own civil war and suffering from the smallpox epidemic, both of which had dramatically weakened the Incan empire.
What helped the Inca control its empire?
The answer is: The emperor ruled with the aid of an aristocratic bureaucracy, exercising authority with harsh and often repressive controls. Inca technology and architecture were highly developed, although not strikingly original. Their irrigation systems, palaces, temples, and fortifications can still be seen throughout the Andes.
Why did the Spaniards want to conquer the Inca?
Why did the Spanish conquistadors want to conquer the Aztecs and the Incas? List 3. (mostly page 33, but also 31-32 and 34-35) The Spanish wanted to take gold from the Aztecs and the Incas. The Spanish wanted to spread the word of the Catholic god. The Spanish wanted to get glory, or fame, for having conquered land for the King of Spain.
Why did Fransisco Pizarro take over the ICAN Empire?
Answer will be: According to The Biography Channel, Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro was able to defeat the Inca easily because the Incans were embroiled in their own civil war and suffering from the smallpox epidemic, both of which had dramatically weakened the Incan empire.