Origins

Legend says that the Incas originated from a small group of hostile people that lived near Lake Titicaca in the southeastern part of Peru before the 13th century. It was said that Manco Capac was the first Inca emperor. Manco’s brothers and sisters came from caves in the earth. In the year 1200, Manco led ten clans from Lake Titicaca to Cuzco. The Incas conquered the land and people that resided there. Manco and his sister Mama Ocllo married each other to produce the royal Inca bloodline. The Inca Empire extended 25 miles around Cuzco during the time when Viracocha Inca, who was the eighth emperor of the Incas, was in control. When Viracocha Inca’s son, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, became emperor, the Incas expanded significantly after the takeover of the Chanca tribe. Pachacuti was an important leader of the Incas for the reason that he reorganized the Inca social and political system. Pachacuti and his son, Topa Inca Yupanque, together extended the empire from northern Ecuador to central Chile. At this point, the Inca Empire reached 3,000 miles.