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Machu Picchu, Peru |
Tawantinsuyu was
the name given to their empire by the Inkas, which is translated from
Quechua
as “Land of the Four Quarters.” The Inkas mastered people
in lands that were as diverse as any could be, from the highland
altiplanos to the coastal wetlands. They ruled in over 6 modern-day
countries; Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. |
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Area of Detail |
Tawantinsuyu is unique in its size and grandeur, in particular because it was located south of the equator and in the Western Hemisphere, a region in which little evidence has been found of large, influential empires. The Inka influence can be seen across their known world with beautifully crafted goods, religious iconography, and stunning architecture. Even the Spaniards, with all their wealth and knowledge of the Old World, were awed at the strength and riches of Tawantinsuyu. But with great power comes great problems, in this case the maintenance of a large empire composed of hundreds of different religions, ethnicities, and environments. |
In order to impose their rule on the variety of customs that they came across, the Inkas used a combination of direct and indirect rule. These are usually referred to as territorial (or use of force) and hegemonic (more along the lines of coercion). In this website we will discuss the various techniques used in both categories. |
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| Created for your viewing pleasure by Contessa Carlena Fay Waugh & Mikela Nicole Formento Trigilio Professor Christina Torres-Rouff - AN203 - States & Empires of the Ancient Andes Special Thanks to Stephanie Last updated 20 January 2005 |