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  • Western South America
    4th Century

    Tiwanaku and Wari

    Western South America
    4th Century

    The Inca Empire was preceded by two large-scale empires in the Andes: the Tiwanaku (c. 300–1100 AD), based around Lake Titicaca, and the Wari or Huari (c. 600–1100 AD) centered near the city of Ayacucho. The Wari occupied the Cuzco area for about 400 years. Thus, many of the characteristics of the Inca Empire derived from earlier multi-ethnic and expansive Andean cultures.




  • Cusco, Peru
    13th Century

    Cuzco area

    Cusco, Peru
    13th Century

    The Inca people began as a tribe in the Cuzco area around the start of the 13th century. Under the leadership of Manco Cápac, they formed the small city-state of Cusco (Quechua Qosqo).




  • Inca
    1200s

    Sapa Inca

    Inca
    1200s

    The Sapa Inca of the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Cusco were, in order, Manco Cápac, Sinchi Roca, Lloque Yupanqui, Mayta Cápac, and Cápac Yupanqui. Evidence of state organization dates from 1200 AD.




  • Inca
    13th Century

    Manco Cápac

    Inca
    13th Century

    Manco Cápac, also known as Manco Inca and Ayar Manco was, according to some historians, the first governor and founder of the Inca civilization in Cusco, possibly in the early 13th century.




  • Inca
    1230s

    Sinchi Roca

    Inca
    1230s

    Sinchi Roca, Sinchi Rocca, Cinchi Roca (in Hispanicized spellings), Sinchi Ruq'a or Sinchi Ruq'a Inka (Quechua for "valorous generous Inca") was the second Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around 1230 CE, though as early as 1105 CE according to some) and a member of the Hurin dynasty (first dynasty).




  • Inca
    1260s

    Lloque Yupanqui

    Inca
    1260s

    Lloque Yupanqui was the third Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around CE 1260) and a member of the Hurin dynasty.




  • Inca
    1290s

    Mayta Cápac

    Inca
    1290s

    Mayta Cápac (Quechua Mayta Qhapaq Inka) was the fourth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around 1290 CE) and a member of the Hurin dynasty.


  • Inca
    1320s

    Cápac Yupanqui

    Inca
    1320s

    Cápac Yupanqui (Quechua Qhapaq Yupanki Inka, "splendid accountant Inca") was the fifth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around CE 1320) and the last of the Hurin dynasty.


  • Inca
    1350s

    Second dynasty

    Inca
    1350s

    The second dynasty was affiliated with the Hanan moiety and was founded under Inca Roca, the son of the last Hurin Sapa Inca, Cápac Yupanqui. After Cápac Yupanqui's death, another of his sons, Inca Roca's half-brother Quispe Yupanqui, was intended to succeed him. However, the Hanan revolted and installed Inca Roca instead.


  • Inca
    1350s

    Inca Roca

    Inca
    1350s

    Inca Roca (Quechua Inka Roq'a, "magnanimous Inca") was the sixth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around CE 1350) and the first of the Hanan ("upper") Qusqu dynasty. His wife was Mama Michay, and his son was Yawar Waqaq.


  • Inca
    1380s

    Yawar Waqaq

    Inca
    1380s

    Yawar Waqaq or "Yawar Waqaq Inka" was the seventh Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around CE 1380) and the second of the Hanan dynasty.


  • Inca
    1410s

    Viracocha Inca

    Inca
    1410s

    Viracocha (in Hispanicized spelling) or Wiraqucha (Quechua, the name of a god) was the eighth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around 1410) and the third of the Hanan dynasty.


  • Inca
    1438

    Far-reaching expansion

    Inca
    1438

    In 1438 AD, under the command of the Sapa Inca (paramount leader) Pachacuti, the Incas began a far-reaching expansion. The land which Pachacuti conquered was about the size of the Thirteen Colonies at the outbreak of the American Revolution of 1776 and consisted of nearly the entire territory of the Andes mountain range.


  • Inca
    1430s

    Pachacuti

    Inca
    1430s

    Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui was the ninth Sapa Inca (1418–1471/1472) of the Kingdom of Cusco which he transformed into the Inca Empire. Most archaeologists now believe that the famous Inca site of Machu Picchu was built as an estate for Pachacuti.


  • Cusco, Inca
    1440s

    Machu Picchu

    Cusco, Inca
    1440s

    Most archeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest.


  • Inca
    1460s

    Yupanqui began conquests to the north in 1463

    Inca
    1460s

    Traditionally the son of the Inca ruler led the army. Pachacuti's son Túpac Inca Yupanqui began conquests to the north in 1463 and continued them as Inca rulers after Pachacuti's death in 1471.


  • Near the Maule River
    1470s

    Battle of the Maule

    Near the Maule River
    1470s

    Túpac Inca's son Huayna Cápac added a small portion of land to the north in modern-day Ecuador. At its height, the Inca Empire included Peru, western and south-central Bolivia, southwest Ecuador and a large portion of what is today Chile, north of the Maule River. Traditional historiography claims the advance south halted after the Battle of the Maule where they met determined resistance from the Mapuche.


  • Inca
    1470s

    Topa Inca Yupanqui

    Inca
    1470s

    Topa Inca Yupanqui or Túpac Inca Yupanqui translated as "noble Inca accountant," (c. 1441–c. 1493) was the tenth Sapa Inca (1471–93) of the Inca Empire, the fifth of the Hanan dynasty. His father was Pachacuti, and his son was Huayna Capac. Topa Inca belonged to the Qhapaq panaca (one of the clans of Inca nobles). His wife was his older sister, Mama Ocllo.


  • Inca
    1490s

    Huayna Capac

    Inca
    1490s

    Huayna Capac was the third Sapan Inka of the Inca Empire, born in Tumipampa sixth of the Hanan dynasty, and eleventh of the Inca civilization. As other Sapa Inkas, Huayna Capac subjects commonly approached him adding epithets and titles when addressing him, commonly as Wayna Qhapaq Inka Sapa'lla Tukuy Llaqt'a Uya "Unique Sovereign Wayna Qhapaq Listener of All Peoples". His original name was Titu Kusi Wallpa. He was the successor to Tupaq Inka Yupanki.


  • Ecuador and Peru
    1527

    The empire's push into the Amazon Basin near the Chinchipe River was stopped by the Shuar

    Ecuador and Peru
    1527

    The empire's push into the Amazon Basin near the Chinchipe River was stopped by the Shuar in 1527. The empire extended into the corners of Argentina and Colombia. However, most of the southern portion of the Inca empire, the portion denominated as Qullasuyu, was located in the Altiplano.


  • Inca
    1527

    Huáscar Inca

    Inca
    1527

    Huáscar Inca was Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire from 1527 to 1532. He succeeded his father, Huayna Capac, and his brother Ninan Cuyochi, both of whom died of smallpox while campaigning near Quito.


  • Panama
    1520s

    Spanish explored Panama

    Panama
    1520s

    Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro and his brothers explored south from what is today Panama, reaching Inca territory.


  • Spain
    1529

    Royal approval

    Spain
    1529

    It was clear that they had reached a wealthy land with prospects of a great treasure, and after another expedition in 1529 Pizarro traveled to Spain and received royal approval to conquer the region and be its viceroy. This approval was received as detailed in the following quote: "In July 1529 the Queen of Spain signed a charter allowing Pizarro to conquer the Incas. Pizarro was named governor and captain of all conquests in Peru, or New Castile, as the Spanish now called the land."


  • Peru and Ecuador
    1529

    Inca Civil War

    Peru and Ecuador
    1529

    The Inca Civil War, also known as the Inca Dynastic War, the Inca War of Succession, or, sometimes, the War of the Two Brothers, was fought between half-brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, over succession to the throne of the Inca Empire. The war followed Huayna Capac's death in 1527.


  • Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Apr, 1531

    Battle of Puná

    Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Apr, 1531

    The first engagement between the Inca and the Spanish was the Battle of Puná, near present-day Guayaquil, Ecuador.


  • Piura, Peru
    Jul, 1532

    Pizarro then founded the city of Piura

    Piura, Peru
    Jul, 1532

    Pizarro then founded the city of Piura in July 1532.


  • Inca
    1532

    Atahualpa

    Inca
    1532

    Atahualpa (c. 1502 – 26 July 1533) was the last Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca (sovereign emperor) of the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) before the Spanish conquest ended his reign.


  • Inca
    1532

    Conquistadors returned to Peru

    Inca
    1532

    When the conquistadors returned to Peru in 1532, a war of succession between the sons of Sapa Inca Huayna Capac, Huáscar, and Atahualpa, and unrest among newly conquered territories weakened the empire. Perhaps more importantly, smallpox, influenza, typhus, and measles had spread from Central America.


  • Inca
    1530s

    Hernando de Soto was sent inland to explore the interior

    Inca
    1530s

    Hernando de Soto was sent inland to explore the interior and returned with an invitation to meet the Inca, Atahualpa, who had defeated his brother in the civil war and was resting at Cajamarca with his army of 80,000 troops, that was at the moment armed only with hunting tools.


  • Cajamarca, Peru
    Wednesday Nov 16, 1532

    Battle of Cajamarca

    Cajamarca, Peru
    Wednesday Nov 16, 1532

    After this, the Spanish began their attack against the mostly unarmed Inca, captured Atahualpa as a hostage, and forced the Inca to collaborate.


  • Inca
    Jul, 1533

    Túpac Huallpa

    Inca
    Jul, 1533

    Túpac Huallpa (or Huallpa Túpac) (1510-October 1533), original name Auqui Huallpa Túpac, was the first vassal Inca Emperor installed by the Spanish conquistadors, during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire led by Francisco Pizarro.


  • Cajamarca
    Saturday Aug 26, 1533

    Atahualpa was executed

    Cajamarca
    Saturday Aug 26, 1533

    Atahualpa offered the Spaniards enough gold to fill the room he was imprisoned in and twice that amount of silver. The Inca fulfilled this ransom, but Pizarro deceived them, refusing to release the Inca afterward. During Atahualpa's imprisonment, Huáscar was assassinated elsewhere. The Spaniards maintained that this was at Atahualpa's orders; this was used as one of the charges against Atahualpa when the Spaniards finally executed him, in August 1533.


  • Inca
    1533

    Manco Inca Yupanqui

    Inca
    1533

    Manco Inca Yupanqui (c. 1515 – c. 1544) (Manqu Inka Yupanki in Quechua) was the founder and monarch (Sapa Inca) of the independent Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, although he was originally a puppet Inca Emperor installed by the Spaniards. He was also known as "Manco II" and "Manco Cápac II". He was one of the sons of Huayna Capac and a younger brother of Huascar.


  • Inca
    Wednesday Nov 8, 1533

    Battle of Vilcaconga

    Inca
    Wednesday Nov 8, 1533

    The Battle of Vilcaconga was a battle during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire from November 8–9, 1533. The Spanish won a convincing victory, suffering minimal casualties.


  • Cusco, Inca
    Nov, 1533

    Battle of Cusco

    Cusco, Inca
    Nov, 1533

    The Battle of Cusco was fought in November 1533 between the forces of Spanish Conquistadors and of the Incas.


  • Inca
    1534

    Battle of Maraycalla

    Inca
    1534

    The battle of Maraycalla was fought in 1534 between Spanish conquistadors and renegade forces of the Inca Empire, whose capital Cuzco had been taken by the Spaniards in November 1533. The Inca army was commanded by famous general Quizquiz.


  • Cusco, Inca
    Wednesday May 6, 1536

    Siege of Cusco

    Cusco, Inca
    Wednesday May 6, 1536

    The siege of Cusco (May 6, 1536 – March 1537) was the siege of the city of Cusco by the army of Sapa Inca Manco Inca Yupanqui against a garrison of Spanish conquistadors and Indian auxiliaries led by Hernando Pizarro in the hope to restore the Inca Empire (1438–1533). The siege lasted ten months and was ultimately unsuccessful.


  • Inca
    1537

    Paullu Inca

    Inca
    1537

    Paullu Inca (1518–1549) was a puppet Sapa Inca installed by the Spaniards after the previous Sapa Inca, Manco Inca Yupanqui, rebelled against the Spanish and established the small Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba.


  • Inca
    1545

    Sayri Túpac

    Inca
    1545

    Sayri Túpac (c. 1535–1561) was an Inca ruler in Peru. He was the son of siblings Manco Inca Yupanqui and Cura Ocllo. After the death of his mother in 1539 and of his father in 1544, both at the hands of Spanish conquerors, he became the ruler of the Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba. He ruled until 1560.


  • Inca
    1560s

    Titu Cusi

    Inca
    1560s

    Diego de Castro Titu Cusi Yupanqui (1529 – 1571) was an Inca ruler of Vilcabamba and the penultimate leader of the Neo-Inca State. He was a son of Manco Inca Yupanqui, He was crowned in 1563, after the death of his half-brother, Sayri Tupac. He ruled until his death in 1571, probably of pneumonia.


  • Inca
    1571

    Last legitimate Inca to rule

    Inca
    1571

    Túpac Amaru was the last legitimate Inca to rule (in the Vilcabamba region as the Neo-Inca State). With the death of his elder brother Titu Cosi, he ordered the execution of all Spanish people living in Vilcabamba and led an unsuccessful and poorly planned rebellion against the colonists. This resulted in his death and the end of Incan sovereignty, for Vilcabamba was occupied and the survivors enslaved.


  • Inca
    1572

    Túpac Amaru was captured and executed

    Inca
    1572

    In 1572 the last Inca stronghold was conquered and the last ruler, Túpac Amaru, Manco's son, was captured and executed. This ended resistance to the Spanish conquest under the political authority of the Inca state.


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