The Last Days of the Incas details the story of the rise of the Incan empire to Francisco Pizzaro’s takeover in his 
pursuit for power and wealth. Kim MacQuarrie, the author, does a good job of telling the Incan story as if he was a journalist writing right next to Pizarro and the Incan Emperor. This book got me excited for our trip to Peru in a few weeks where we can personally experience this native culture.
The Stage
Peru, split in two by the Andes mountains, was home to the largest native empire in the Americas. The empire rivaled the size of the Romans, spanning over a large portion of South America. The ingenuity of these people can still be seen today in the ancient ruins, such as Machu Pichu, where you’ll see thousand pound blocks of stone pieced together like a puzzle that has withstood hundreds of years of abuse.
Their tax system was fairly similar to ours. But instead of the government taking 20% to 30% of the peasants’ paycheck, the citizens of the empire had to provide three months of service to the country. This could be in the form of building roads, farming, serving as a soldier, etc. It’s sad to think that this much of my time is dedicated to make our country run… but I don’t see the direct payoffs.
The Rise
The Inca civilization came to fruition in the 15th century. The leader, Pachacuti, had conquered much of the modern day Southern Peru. And Cuzco, was rebuilt as a major city an capital of the empire.
As the years went by, the empire began to grow larger. And from 1438 to 1533, the Incas used a variety of methods, from conquest to peaceful assimilation, to incorporate a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean mountain ranges. By the time Huayna Cupac, Pachacuti’s grandson, was at the end of the rule, the Inca empire stretched into modern day Peru and Bolivia, most of Ecuador, a large portion of Chile, and extended into Argentina and Colombia.
However, many changes we’re about to begin on the Incan culture.
Two Invasions
The first invasion came from Central America and worked down to South America. This silent and malicious murderer decimated the native population. The smallpox virus, coming form the Europeans as they conquered Central America, made its way into Cusco. And its grip soon tightened around the life of the emperor, Huayna Cupac.
This left the largest empire in South America without a ruler. In the Incan culture, the eldest son of the emperor did not inherit the throne as was the case in European civilization. In fact, whichever son proved to be the strongest obtained the empire. Two brothers, Huascar and Atahualpa, turned their backs against one another.
Huascar quickly secured power in Cusco and had Atahualpa arrested. However, the military-minded Atahualpa escaped, and then recruited his father’s generals to march against his brother, putting the empire in a civil war. Two bloody years ensued, killing over 60,000 and maybe even over 110,000 native lives. However, in the final battle, Atahualpa defeated his brother and captured him. Atahualpa was now the sole emperor of a large nation. He began his march back to the capital, Cusco, when he ran into the second invader, the bearded men.
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro had arrived in Peru looking for power and wealth. With only 168 men and a few horses he took refuge in the town of Cajamarca. Pizarro knew that if he was able to capture the emperor, he would be able to control the empire. But, he was outnumbered. However, he came up with a plan that Atahualpa played right into. With more than a few thousand troops, Atahualpa approached the city of Cajamarca to meet the Spaniards. And upon entering the city, the Incas were greeted only by a Dominican Friar.
The friar began to speak the Catholic word from the bible to the emperor. Atahualpa looked at the bible and then threw it on the ground, not understanding the significance of his actions. This upset the friar and he cried out blasphemy. The Spanish, despite being outnumbered more than 20 to 1, jumped out from hiding in the buildings to attack.
The Spanish had far superior technology than the Incas, who had never seen horses, or cannons, or guns. And even the Spanish’s full armor was impenetrable by the Incan’s copper weapons, and their steel swords sliced through the native bodies like butter. That day, despite being outnumbered, the Spanish captured Atahualpa, killed over 1500 natives, and did not suffer even one casualty. It was a massacre. .
Atahualpa pleaded for his freedom. He offered the Spanish a room full of gold if he could have his freedom. But, despite his efforts, Pizarro discovered that Atahualpa was still giving orders while imprisoned. (He had ordered his captured brother to be drowned.) And to make an example of him, the Spanish tried and executed the emperor.
Manco Inca
The Spanish still wanted to rule the Incan empire, and coincidentally, they were able to find another son of Huayna Capac’s, which they crowned. This young naive emperor felt that if he could please the Spanish, then they may leave the country. He was sadly mistaken. He offered as much gold as he could find to the Spanish, but they only wanted more. He offered them the most beautiful women in the country, but they only abused them. And even Francisco Pizarro’s brothers began to severely mistreat the emperor even to the point of stealing his wife against his will. After a few years of ruling with the Spanish, Manco escaped.
Manco then orchestrated a few attempts to destroy the Spanish. He had command of over 200,000 troops, but none of these were successful. The Spanish tools and warfare were too advanced. And so reluctantly, Manco retreated to the jungles of Vilcabamba.
Almagro
After five years from the battle in Cajamacra, the Spanish began to have internal issues of their own. One of the conquistadors and an old confidant of Pizarro, had turned against him. While Pizarro was in Lima, Diego de Almagro grew bitter of the success and wealth of Francisco. So, he decided to capture Cuzco with his army and siezed Pizarro’s brothers. After Pizarro received word of this, he ordered his army to take back Cuzco, which was successful. He then ordered Almagro to be decapitated.
This divided the Spanish even more. The supporters of Almagro soon became the outcasts of the city. And as time went by, these supporters became more and more chastised with their resentment growing. They felt Pizarro, who was now in his latder 60’s, was a tyrant. So, in 1541, these supporters stormed Pizarro’s house in Lima and stabbed the conquistador to his death.
Some of these murderers quickly fled to Vilcabamba for safety and avoid prosecution. And Manco welcomed them after hearing the news of Pizarro’s death. Over the next two years, they taught Manco about European warfare, so Manco could better understand his enemy to defeat them.
This soon changed though and the rebels allegiance changed again. They felt that if they were able to assassinate Manco, then they’d be able to return to Spanish culture unscathed. They plotted against him. And one day, while playing horseshoes with Manco, they stabbed him in the back and proceeded to kill him. \
Despite offering them safety and refuge, Manco’s life was taken, but the rebels’ escape was not successful, as they were brutally killed by the native population.
And Finally…
In 1572, Vilcabamba was invaded by the Spanish. Despite the effort of the Inca army, the last ruler, Túpac Amaru, Manco’s son, was captured and executed, bringing the Inca empire to an end.
The story of how the Spanish manipulated and murdered the Incas for their gold and power, is a sad conclusion. Many aspects of the Inca culture were systematically destroyed, but what remains today are the greatness of their architecture and culture, which I’ll be able to personally experience soon. I know I’m excited.