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A Tale of the Inca Empire

The Inca Empire's relatively short reign did not hinder such an imposing imprint in Peruvian history and beyond. During its two-year rule, between 1531 and 1533, the Inca was able to administer a full-pledged civilization complete with an overall ruler, several bureaus, an official language, and a universal religion.

The Inca Empire started in Cuzco during the early 15th century, involving just the river valleys in the area. Even at that time, the kingdom is already under the authority of a ruler or an emperor dubbed as "Inca". Through the leadership of the first Inca ruler, Parachuti, and his offspring, the boundaries of the empire were successfully expanded by means of acquisitions of neighboring regions. By adopting the cultures of the places it was able to take over, the Inca Empire developed a highly organized government and a more refined Peruvian civilization with distinctive norms and traditions.

The kingdom's expansion prompted several administrative departments to form, centered around the empire's capital, Cuzco. These departments were created to oversee the Inca Empire's political and military affairs. At that time, the empire was ruling over vast land areas, including the southern and northern part of Ecuador, the northern corner of Chile, the northeastern portion of Argentina, the western and eastern end of Bolivia, several regions of Colombia, and deep into the Amazon forest. These areas are covered with interesting customs from the way the Inca citizens speak to the way they glorify their Gods.

Tahuantinsuyo is the local term coined for the Inca Empire, yet its official language did not originate from its tribe rather than from that of another that succumb under its powers. The Quechua is considered as the official Inca language, and learning and speaking it is a requirement for all the citizens of the Inca Empire. Religion is another major influence that the Inca Empire founded. Although the Inca government allowed its people to liberally worship their own gods, it also insisted that they recognize the sun god Inti as superior because he is represented by the emperor or the "Inca" on earth.

On top of these distinct norms and traditions, the Inca Empire was also highly recognized for its impressive infrastructure works. Albeit the absence of modern technology, it was able to develop a fully functional transportation system, the Inca trail, which brought the people to various points within the empire. Unfortunately, the glorious days of the Inca Empire came to a halt when a Spanish ruler named Francisco Pizarro claimed over its sovereignty.