- 1. The Inca Empire, known as Tawantinsuyu in the native Quechua language, was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, extending across parts of present-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile from the early 15th century until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Emerging from the highlands of Peru, the Incas initially consolidated power in the city of Cusco, which became the political and religious heart of the empire. Their advanced engineering skills facilitated the construction of extensive road networks and impressive agricultural terraces, allowing them to manage and sustain a large population. The Incas practiced a unique form of governance that relied heavily on a centralized bureaucracy, skilled administration, and an intricate system of taxation, often based on labor in the form of mit'a. Religion played a vital role in Inca society, with the worship of the sun god Inti being paramount, alongside a pantheon of deities associated with nature and agriculture. The empire was known for its architectural marvels, such as the renowned city of Machu Picchu and the impressive structures of Sacsayhuamán. However, the decline of the Inca Empire began with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s, who exploited internal divisions and the existing civil war between rival Inca factions. The subsequent conquest resulted in the rapid collapse of Inca political and social systems, leading to the eventual establishment of Spanish colonial rule over the region. Despite this drastic change, the legacy of the Inca civilization endures today through its numerous archaeological sites, cultural practices, and the enduring presence of Quechua-speaking communities.
What was the capital of the Inca Empire?
A) Lima
B) Quito
C) Cusco
D) Machu Picchu
- 2. What language did the Inca people predominantly speak?
A) Spanish
B) Nahuatl
C) Quechua
D) Aymara
- 3. Which mountain range was central to the Inca Empire?
A) The Alps
B) The Rockies
C) The Himalayas
D) The Andes
- 4. What is the primary agricultural product of the Incas?
A) Rice
B) Barley
C) Potatoes
D) Wheat
- 5. What was the Inca road system called?
A) Qhapaq Ñan
B) Inca Trail
C) Camino Real
D) Chasqui Route
- 6. Which of the following was NOT an Inca achievement?
A) Terraced farming
B) Road construction
C) Written language
D) Stone architecture
- 7. In what year did the Spanish conquistadors arrive in the Inca Empire?
A) 1545
B) 1492
C) 1532
D) 1521
- 8. Which Spanish explorer is credited with the conquest of the Inca Empire?
A) Francisco Pizarro
B) Juan Ponce de León
C) Hernán Cortés
D) Diego de Almagro
- 9. What was the system of knotted strings used by the Incas to record information called?
A) Codex
B) Glyph
C) Chronicler
D) Quipu
- 10. What was the main religion of the Incas centered around?
A) Ancestor worship
B) Nature spirits
C) Sun worship
D) Moon worship
- 11. Which sacred Inca site is often referred to as the 'Lost City of the Incas'?
A) Nazca
B) Cuzco
C) Machu Picchu
D) Ollantaytambo
- 12. What was the social structure of the Inca Empire characterized by?
A) Anarchy
B) A hierarchy
C) A democracy
D) A meritocracy
- 13. What was the name of the Inca agricultural terraces?
A) Bancos
B) Mezquinos
C) Andenes
D) Huaracas
- 14. What was the title for the Inca emperor?
A) Tahuantinsuyu
B) Inka
C) Sapa Inca
D) Pachacuti
- 15. What was the main animal used by the Incas for transportation?
A) Horse
B) Alpaca
C) Donkey
D) Llama
- 16. In which continent did the Inca Empire primarily exist?
A) Asia
B) Europe
C) North America
D) South America
- 17. Who were the Inca messengers known as?
A) Couriers
B) Pillars
C) Runners
D) Chasquis
- 18. What was the name of the Inca's sun god?
A) Quilla
B) Inti
C) Pachamama
D) Viracocha
- 19. What was the ultimate fate of the Inca leader Atahualpa?
A) Became a Spanish ally
B) Escaped to the jungle
C) Executed by the Spanish
D) Exiled
- 20. What was the Inca road system primarily used for?
A) Warfare
B) Religious ceremonies
C) Agriculture
D) Communication and trade
- 21. How did the Incas expand their territory?
A) Colonization of distant lands
B) Marriages only
C) Trade agreements only
D) Military conquest and diplomacy
- 22. Which agricultural technique did the Incas develop to farm in the mountains?
A) Drought-resistant crops
B) Hydroponics
C) Sustainable logging
D) Terracing
- 23. What material was predominantly used in Inca architecture?
A) Concrete
B) Stone
C) Wood
D) Brick
- 24. What was the Inca term for their social unit, often composed of families?
A) Tribe
B) Ayllu
C) Horde
D) Clan
- 25. In which modern countries was the Inca Empire located?
A) Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina
B) Brazil and Colombia
C) Paraguay and Uruguay
D) Mexico and Guatemala
- 26. What type of religion did the Incas practice?
A) Agnostic
B) Animistic
C) Monotheistic
D) Polytheistic
- 27. What was the Inca practice of worshipping the dead?
A) Burial at sea
B) Mummification
C) Cremation
D) Sky burial
- 28. What form of architecture is characteristic of Inca construction?
A) Frame construction
B) Reinforced concrete
C) Barrel vaulting
D) Ashlar masonry
- 29. Who was the first Sapa Inca?
A) Pachacuti
B) Huáscar
C) Atahualpa
D) Manco Cápac
- 30. What is the term for Inca labor tax?
A) Mit'a
B) Quinquenal
C) Corvée
D) Tributo
- 31. What structure served as the administrative center of Cusco?
A) Santo Domingo
B) Tambo Toco
C) Sacsayhuamán
D) Qorikancha
- 32. The Inca Empire was at its height during which century?
A) 16th century
B) 14th century
C) 15th century
D) 17th century
- 33. Incan priests were responsible for what?
A) Agricultural planning
B) Military training
C) Religious ceremonies
D) Political decisions
- 34. What was a major agricultural product of the Incas?
A) Soybeans
B) Chia
C) Quinoa
D) Barley
- 35. Which European disease significantly impacted the Inca population?
A) Typhus
B) Influenza
C) Smallpox
D) Malaria
- 36. The style of Inca stonework is characterized by what feature?
A) Precision fitting without mortar
B) Wood construction
C) Use of bricks
D) Concrete pouring
- 37. Which plant was a major crop for the Incas?
A) Wheat
B) Rice
C) Corn
D) Potato
- 38. What was the main administrative division of the Inca Empire?
A) Counties
B) Provinces
C) Districts
D) Suyus
- 39. What was one of the main reasons for the Spanish conquest of the Incas?
A) Technology
B) Education
C) Gold
D) Land reform
- 40. What is the traditional Inca textile art called?
A) Knitting
B) Quilting
C) Weaving
D) Embroidery
- 41. Which solar event did the Incas celebrate with Inti Raymi?
A) Summer solstice
B) Winter solstice
C) Equinox
D) Perigee
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