History Day Project by Ryan Kenneth Hamel
For my bibliography click "Bibliography" on the left hand side.
For my Process paper click "Process".
I did my report on Pachacuti. Pachacuti means “he who transformed the earth”. He was born the son of Viracocha, a semi-legendary ruler. Pachacuti was not the first born son nor the favorite. In 1430 CE the neighboring tribe of Chanca went to war against Viracocha in Cuzco. Instead of fighting, Viracocha and his born son, Urco, ran away to the mountains. Pachacuti, who was left behind got the troops going and won the war. Pachacuti was crowned Inca ruler in 1438. Urco was kicked out of the city for good because he was a coward and brought shame to the people.
The law use to be who ever won the war would kill the losers. Instead he made them join him in the empire. The towns that were conquered spoke their own languages as a way to bring everybody together; he had everyone talk one language which is called “Quechua”. In addition, he built roads, “Roads were another key element of Pachacutec’s program to solidify his empire. Under his reign, the Inca constructed some 2500 miles (4000 km) of stone roads, many of them across high mountain pass and others through steaming swamps. Though these were extremely well-built, with tightly fitted stones, they were not roads as Europeans would understand them: most were about only about three ft (1m) wide, which was sufficient to accommodate pedestrians or load-bearing llamas.”(http://www.bookrags.com/pachacuti)
Most of the Inca people worked hard, one of the commandments were “Do not be lazy”. Even though a capital didn’t exist, and there was no such thing as money, everything had value. (5 potatoes = 1 corn; 5 corns = 25 potatoes). “The principal foods: corn, potato, sweet potato, orca, quinua and countless other vegetables of high nutritional value; dried and salted meat or fish; everything spiced with salt (cachi) or hot pepper (uchu); sweets were almost nonexistent”. (http://www.incason.com/about_peru.htm) Llamas were raised for transporting goods. Alpacas were raised for there wool. Weavers made beautiful clothes out of the alpacas fur.
The houses in the mountains were built of stone and had roofs. Some houses had no windows at all. The way Pachacuti got news was by building little houses equal to a day’s travel. People would stay at these little houses waiting for a runner to show up. The important information would be passed on to the new runner, he would then go to the next house. This message system was fast and reliable. It was estimated that a runner could run 140 miles a day. Pachacuti and his army was never caught by surprise.
As a way to grow his empire Pachacuti and his son Tupac would ask neighboring towns to join him and become apart of his empire, if they said no Pachacuti would send the Inca army under control of Tupac to fight them and take their land. Still, they will not be killed and Pachacuti would put one of his trusted relatives in charge. By the time Pachacuti died his empire expanded along the west coast from Columbia over 2400 Miles to Southern Chile.
As Pachacuti and his son Tupac would gather more land for their empire they would build palaces for his relatives to live. The places would be built high on mountains so they could overlook all the people living in the valley below. One such special palace is now known as Machu Picchu. This palace was not found by the Spaniards who over took the Inca’s in 1533. It was not until 1911 to 1912 that Hiram Bingham an American archaeologist found the city. Machu Picchu was built between two high mountain peeks. It overlooks the Urubamba River, and spreads over five square miles. There are over 3000 steps linking the different levels together. Many current investigators believe the site was used as a religious sanctuary. Most recently Machu Picchu was picked as one of the Seven New Wonders Of The World.
From the beginning when Pachacuti took power he wanted to rebuild Cuzco. In order for him to do this he had to move all the people out. He than measured the town to find out the number of streets needed. In addition, there were two rivers that would flood each spring and cause problems for the town. Pachacuti changed the flow of the rivers and used the water for irrigation for the fields. The towns people were allowed to return only if they had a trade that could be used in rebuilding Cuzco. Trades in such as rock cutters, people who knew how to make mud for mortar and expert stone carvers. When finished, Cuzco was a special place where the royals would meet and drink and ceremonial gatherings.
I tried to find from different sources how Pachacuti died. Each Source that I went to quoted the passage written by Pedro Sarmiento De Gamboa, translatd by: Clements Markham. It is as follows, “Being in the highest prosperity and sovereignty of his life, he fell ill of a grave infirmity, and, feeling that he was at the point of death, he sent for all his sons who were then in the city. In their presence he first divided all his jewels and contents of his wardrobe. Next he made them plough furrows in token that they were vassals of their brother, and that they had to eat by the sweat of their hands. He also gave them arms in token that they were to fight for their brother. He then dismissed them.
He next sent for the Incas orejones of Cuzco, his relations, and for Tupac Inca his son to whom he spoke, with a few words, in this manner: "Son! you now see how many great nations I leave to you, and you know what labour they have cost me. Mind that you are the man to keep and augment them. No one must raise his two eyes against you and live, even if he be your own brother. I leave you these our relations that they may be your councillors. Care for them and they shall serve you. When I am dead, take care of my body, and put it in my houses at Patallacta. Have my golden image in the House of the Sun, and make my subjects, in all the provinces, offer up solemn sacrifice, after which keep the feast of purucaya, that I may go to rest with my father the Sun.” (http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/inca/inca02.htm)
In total Pachacuti lived 125 years. He became a emperor at the age of 22 and was an Inca 103 years. He gave power to his son Tupac and the Inca empire continued until the Spanish arrived in 1533.