No, the Inca did not conquer the Aztecs. The Inca civilization existed in the Andes region of South America, while the Aztec civilization thrived in Mesoamerica, specifically in what is now Mexico.
Now let’s take a closer look
No, the Inca did not conquer the Aztecs. The Inca civilization existed in the Andes region of South America, while the Aztec civilization thrived in Mesoamerica, specifically in what is now Mexico.
The Inca Empire, which reached its peak in the 15th century, controlled a vast territory stretching over 2,500 miles along the western coast of South America. Their capital city of Cusco was located in modern-day Peru. On the other hand, the Aztec Empire was centered in the region around Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico, with their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is present-day Mexico City.
It is worth mentioning that both the Inca and the Aztec civilizations developed independently of each other and had distinct cultural, social, and political systems. They also had differing technological advancements, agricultural practices, and religious beliefs.
A well-known quote by renowned historian and archaeologist Michael E. Smith sheds light on the differences between the two civilizations: “The Aztecs are known for their militarism, reliance on tribute, and human sacrifices. The Inca are known for their engineering feats, road networks, and use of knotted strings.”
Here are some interesting facts about the Inca and Aztec civilizations:
Interesting facts about the Inca civilization:
The Inca Empire, also known as Tawantinsuyu, was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.
Emperor Pachacuti, who reigned from 1438 to 1471, expanded the Inca territory through military conquest.
The Inca developed an elaborate system of roads, known as the Inca Road, which spanned thousands of miles and facilitated communication and trade within the empire.
Machu Picchu, the famous ancient city located high in the Andes Mountains, served as a royal estate or retreat for Inca rulers.
The Inca had a centralized political system, with the emperor serving as both the political and religious leader.
The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica, were skilled engineers and built impressive structures, including temples, pyramids, and causeways.
Their society was organized into distinct social classes, with nobles and priests holding significant power.
The Aztecs had a complex agricultural system that involved utilizing floating gardens called chinampas to grow crops.
Human sacrifice played a central role in Aztec religious practices, which aimed to appease their gods and maintain cosmic balance.
The Aztecs had a highly advanced calendar system, which included both a solar calendar and a sacred calendar.
Although the Inca and Aztec civilizations coexisted during the same time period and made significant cultural and technological advancements, there is no historical evidence to suggest that the Inca conquered the Aztecs. These two civilizations remained distinct and separate entities throughout their existence.
Watch related video
In 1533, Spanish conquistadors captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa and executed him after he fulfilled his promise to fill a room with gold and silver. This event led to the conquest of the Inca empire, as the Spaniards became more confident that the empire was already in their hands.
Surely you will be interested in this
Did the Incas fight the Aztecs?
(Professor Cecelia Klein, also on our Panel of Experts, adds: There is no evidence, either documentary or archaeological, that the Aztecs ever met the Inkas.)
Who did the Inca conquered?
As a response to this: Under Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438–71) the Inca conquered territory south to the Titicaca Basin and north to present-day Quito, making subject peoples of the powerful Chanca, the Quechua, and the Chimú.
How were the Aztecs and the Incas defeated?
The Spanish were able to defeat the Aztec and the Inca not only because they had horses, dogs, guns, and swords, but also because they brought with them germs that made many native Americans sick. Diseases like smallpox and measles were unknown among the natives; therefore, they had no immunity to them.
Which empire conquered the Aztecs?
The answer is: Spanish Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
Where did the Spanish conquer the Inca Empire?
In 1532, Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro first made contact with the mighty Inca Empire: it ruled parts of present-day Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Colombia. Within 20 years, the Empire was in ruins and the Spanish were in undisputed possession of the Inca cities and wealth.
How did the Inca empire fall?
Here are the facts about the fall of the Inca Empire. As late as 1528, the Inca Empire was a cohesive unit, ruled by one dominant ruler, Huayna Capac. He died, however, and two of his many sons, Atahualpa and Huáscar, began to fight over his empire. For four years, a bloody civil war raged over the Empire and in 1532 Atahualpa emerged victoriously.
Did Spanish conquistadors defeat the Aztecs?
Response will be: There are multiple 16th-century narratives of the events by Spanish conquistadors, their indigenous allies, and the defeated Aztecs. It was not solely a small contingent of Spaniards defeating the Aztec Empire but a coalition of Spanish invaders with tributaries to the Aztecs, and most especially the Aztecs’ indigenous enemies and rivals.
Who were the Incas and what did they do?
Answer to this: They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.(Show more) Inca, also spelled Inka, South American Indians who, at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1532, ruled an empire that extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of modern Ecuador to the Maule River in central Chile.
Did the Spanish conquest cause the collapse of the Inca Empire?
The reply will be: Some scholars, such as Jared Diamond, believe that while the Spanish conquest was undoubtedly the proximate cause of the collapse of the Inca Empire, it may very well have been past its peak and already in the process of decline. In 1528, Emperor Huayna Capac ruled the Inca Empire.
Did Spanish conquistadors defeat the Aztecs?
Response: There are multiple 16th-century narratives of the events by Spanish conquistadors, their indigenous allies, and the defeated Aztecs. It was not solely a small contingent of Spaniards defeating the Aztec Empire but a coalition of Spanish invaders with tributaries to the Aztecs, and most especially the Aztecs’ indigenous enemies and rivals.
Who were the Incas and what did they do?
They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.(Show more) Inca, also spelled Inka, South American Indians who, at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1532, ruled an empire that extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of modern Ecuador to the Maule River in central Chile.
How did the Inca conquer the Cuzco Valley?
Response will be: Under Capac Yupanqui (Qhapaq Yupanki), the next emperor, the Inca first extended their influence beyond the Cuzco valley, and under Viracocha Inca (Wiraqocha ’Inka), the eighth, they began a program of permanent conquest by establishing garrisons among the settlements of the peoples whom they had conquered.
