Assessment Questions 13.6

Pachacutec was a charismatic leader and military tactician who played a crucial role in the rise of the Inka civilization. Under his rule, the Inka achieved significant economic and political power in the Andean region.

While other pre-Inka states suffered during a sustained drought in the 13th century, the Inka people, located in a wet, high-altitude river valley near Cuzco, were somewhat insulated from the dry period. They thrived by expanding their agricultural land through terracing higher and wetter slopes.

Cuzco served as the capital of the Inka civilization and was characterized by impressive architecture, including palaces, temples, and plazas. It was larger than the capitals of older Andean states, and it housed the elite of Inka society.