Notes From Sherry – Here is a little history of the Inca Empire that Lee has been surrounded by for the past few days. I took this from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.
The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The empire was divided into four Suyus, or regions, whose corners met at the Inca capital, Cuzco, the administrative, political and military center of the empire. The Inca Empire arose from the highlands of Peru in the 13th century and between 1200 and 1535 AD the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile and included rainless coastal deserts, mountain ranges towering more than 22,000 feet, and steamy rain forests. On slopes rising four vertical miles, climates in the Inca Empire varied from tropical to polar. Although hundreds of local languages were spoken, the official language of the empire was Quechua (pronounced Chichequwa). The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their strict hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society. The height of their reign in the 15th century came to a brutal end in 1535 when the Spanish conquistadors took over their territory.
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nca cities and fortresses were mostly built on highlands and on the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains. In scattered areas on these slopes, both at high and low elevation, the Incas terraced and irrigated the land and produced abundant food for the twelve million or more subjects. The architecture of the Inca cities still amazes and puzzles most scientists. Stone steps lead up to the top of the cities, which consist of stone houses and religious buildings. The blocks of stones weigh several tons and they are fit together so tightly that not even a razor blade can fit through them. The central city was mainly used for government purposes, while the citizens occupied surrounding areas. Their homes were made from the same stone material and had grass rooftops.
The Inca society was arranged by a strict hierarchical structure. There were many different levels with the Sapa, high priest or ruler, and the army commander at the top. Family members were counselors to the Sapa and even women had authority in the Inca hierarchy. The temple priests, architects and regional army commanders were next. The two lowest classes consisted of artisans, army captains, farmers, and herders. Farmers provided most of the subsistence for the rest of the population. They had to pay tax in the form of gold, which were distributed to the higher classes.
Their comprehension of how irrigation can benefit agriculture is evident by the expansion into the highland areas. They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crop resources. Potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and coca were among the many crops grown by the Inca. Llama were used for meat and transportation. There was more than enough resources available for everyone. Increased subsistence levels led to a growth in the Inca population.
Since population was increasing and 
the organization of the Inca became stronger, the need for protection became necessary. They built enormous fortresses on top of steep mountains that enabled them to see their enemies and defend themselves. One of the most famous Inca fortresses is Sacasahuman (pictured), located in Cusco, the Inca Empire capital.
Even though the Inca never had access to the wheel, they built a 14,000 mile sophisticated network of roads, some as wide as 24 feet, to connect the villages within the Inca domain. Parallel trunk lines, connected by lateral roads tracing river valleys, followed coast and highlands. The roads were paved with flat stones and barriers to protect the messengers, or chasqui, from falling down the cliff. Four main highways entered Cuzco, the heart of the empire.
The highest point in an Inca village was reserved for religious purposes. This point was the closest to the sun, which 
represented their major god, Inti, the Sun God. 
The six major gods of the Inca represent the moon, sun, earth, thunder/lightning and the sea. Pachamama is the earth god, who is the mother of all humans. The Inca had shamans who believed in animal spirits living on earth. Heaven was depicted by the condor, the underworld by the anaconda, and the brother who resided on earth was the puma. The Sun Temple, located in Machu Picchu, Peru, was a religious calendar that marked the winter and summer solstices.
The Inca were not only fierce conquerors but they also had a violent punishment system. If someone stole, murdered, or had sex with a Sapa wife or a Sun Virgin, they were thrown off a cliff, hands cut off or eyes cut out, or hung up to starve to death. Prisons were of no use because punishment usually consisted of death.
Gold to the Incas was “The sweat of the Sun” and Silver “The tears of the Moon.” Inca’s love for precious metals was aesthetic only, for neither Incas nor their subjects needed to buy anything. The twelve million or more worshipful people rendered their tribute to the Incas and paid their taxes in work: a billion man-hours a year to build temples, fortresses, agricultural terraces, and roads – all for the grandeur of the empire.
About four centuries ago a priest penned the following: “The riches that were gathered in the city of Cuzco alone, as capital and court of the Empire, were amazing and incredible, for therein were many big gold houses and enormous palaces of dead kings with all the imaginable treasure that each had amassed in life; and he who began to reign did not touch the estate and wealth of his predecessor but…built a new palace and acquired for himself silver and gold and all the rest…”
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