The Incas Vocabulary

spirits that lived dwelled in certain sacred (holy) objects and places, which included temples, charms, and places in nature such as springs and rocks.

• chasquis

• quipu

• mit'a

• huacas

a public duty tax that men had to pay by working on governemnt projects each year. For example, repair roads, build storehouses, or work in mines.

• chasquis

• quipu

• mit'a

• huacas

a system of runners that traveled the Inca roads as a kind of postal service, carrying messages from one end of the empire to the other.

• chasquis

• quipu

• mit'a

• huacas

Knotted cords of various lengths and colors used by the Incas to record numerical information and to keep financial records

• chasquis

• quipu

• mit'a

• huacas

An Incan fortress abandoned high in the Andes mountains that showcases the architectural genius of the Incas.

• Sapa Inca

• Cuzco

• Quechua

• Machu Picchu

The capital city of the Incan Empire, which was located high in the mountains of southern Peru.

• Sapa Inca

• Cuzco

• Quechua

• Machu Picchu

Founder of the Incan dynasty who led the Inca to settle in Cuzco, who claimed to be descended from the sun god, Inti.

• Sapa Inca

• Manco Capac

• Quechua

• Machu Picchu

The emperor of the Incan Empire. People believed that he was descended from the sun god, Inti.

• Sapa Inca

• Manco Capac

• Quechua

• Machu Picchu

The language of the Incans...

• Incas

• ayllus

• oracle

• Quechua

A person through whom a god or spirit is believed to speak about the future....

• Incas

• ayllus

• oracle

• Quechua