Empire of the Inca

The Incas left no written records, but the archaeological remains and Spanish accounts paint a picture of a well-ordered, vast empire where everyone knew their role in society, and no one went hungry or uncared-for. In the mountains of Peru and Ecuador, traces of Inca culture remain today in the road system that winds through the Andes, where people practice a religion that mixes the Catholicism of the Spanish conquerors with the animism of the Incas. Living in small homes and storehouses that date back to Inca times, these people have been celebrating traditional festivals and market days for over 800 years. The book highlights ideas and items that originated in the empire and are still encountered in the modern world, such as potatoes and jerky, words from the Quechua language, and mobile military field hospitals.--From publisher description.