The Inca civilization flourished in ancient Peru between c. 1400 and 1533 CE. The Inca Empire eventually extended across western South America from Quito in the north to Santiago in the south. It was the largest empire ever seen in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time.
More about: Inca CivilizationServer Costs Fundraiser 2026
It costs $20,000 a year to run our servers, and we need your help to pay for them!
$20 / $20000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 1100The Inca, led by Manco Capac, migrate to the Cuzco Valley and establish their capital at Cuzco.
-
c. 1425 - 1532The Inca Empire flourishes in South America.
-
c. 1425Viracocha Inca begins to build the Inca empire.
-
1438 - 1471Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui reigns as the leader of the Inca Empire.
-
1438Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui defeats the Chancas to control the Cuzco Valley and further expand the Inca empire.
-
1438Pachacunti Inca Yupanqui begins a rebuilding programme in the Inca capital of Cuzco.
-
c. 1450Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui founds Machu Picchu in the High Andes.
-
c. 1470The Incas conquer the Chimu civilization based at Chan Chan.
-
1471 - 1493Reign of Inca Tupac Yupanqui who doubles the size of the Inca Empire.
-
1471 - 1493The sacred site of Pachacamac is taken over by the Incas.
-
1493 - 1526Huayna Capac reigns as Inca leader and constructs fortresses, religious temples and roads throughout the empire.
-
c. 1510The Inca abandon the settlement of Machu Picchu.
-
1526 - 1532Civil war between the Inca leaders Waskar and Atahualpa. Atahualpa wins.
-
1530The Inca empire reaches its greatest extent.
-
1532Francsico Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadors arrive in South America.
-
1532 - 1533Reign of Inca ruler Atahualpa.
-
16 Nov 1532Battle of Cajamarca where the Inca leader Atahualpa is captured and held for ransom by Spanish forces led by Francisco Pizarro.
-
26 Jul 1533The Inca leader Atahualpa is executed.
-
15 Nov 1533Francisco Pizarro takes the Inca capital of Cuzco.
-
18 Jan 1535Francsico Pizarro founds Lima (Ciudad de Los Reyes) as the capital of Spanish Peru.
