As a responsible volunteer looking for opportunities in Peru, it is important to know some of the country’s history. So, when you look up information about Peruvian history on the internet, you might have seen the word Tahuantinsuyo or Tawantinsuyo. Likely a term you might have never heard before. What exactly is Tahuantinsuyo? How did it start? How big was it?
The first thing you need to know is that Tahuantinsuyo is another term for the Inca Empire. If you want to know more about this vast empire, keep reading!
Origin
There are many myths about the origin of the Tahuantinsuyo, but here we will tell you the one based on the Inca mythology.
According to the Inca mythology, the Tahuantinsuyo started with two people; Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo. This couple, both husband and wife as well as siblings, were sent by the Sun God to look for an adequate place to establish a city and civilise the people that lived there.
In order to accomplish this mission, the Sun God gave the couple a gold stick. They had to pound this stick on the ground of every place they went to until they found soil where the stick would sink in easily. Guess where they found that soil? Yes, you’re right, in Cusco!
So they chose Cusco as the locatio establish this new city that would become the capital of the Inca Empire. However, despite its importance in history, the Tahuantinsuyo did not last long. There were only 95 years between its beginning in 1438 and its end in 1533.
Expansion
With a peak size of around 2,500,000 km², the Tahuantinsuyo was the biggest empire in the Pre-Columbian Americas. Its territory stretched from the south of Colombia to the centre of Chile, including parts of modern day Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, and, of course, Peru.
All of this territory was conquered through war and alliances between the Incas and other cultures in the XV and XVI centuries.
Origin of the name
The word Tahuantinsuyo derives from the Quechua words tawa , meaning four, and suyo, or region. This is because the Inca territory was divided into four regions: Collasuyo in the Southeast, Chinchaysuyo in the Northwest, Antisuyo in the Northeast, and the Contisuyo in the West.
The Inca
Ther was no emporer or king. Instead the title that was given to the highest authority or head of state in the Tahuantinsuyo was The Inca. During its period of power and independence the empire had five official Incas: Pachacútec, Túpac Yupanqui, Huayna Cápac, Huáscar, and Atahualpa. The latter was in charge of the empire when the Spaniards arrived in Peru.
The fall of the Empire
The fall of the Inca Empire started with the outbreak of civil war between the brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa. When their father, Huayna Cápac, died, Huáscar was in Cusco and Atahualpa was in Ecuador. So, Huáscar was appointed Inca of the empire, while Atahualpa became governor of Quito.
This broke the relationship between brothers and they started a civil war that Atahualpa won. He then became the last Inca of the Empire.
The people of the Tahuantinsuyo were not happy about this war and the empire was left in a vulnerable situation. This was around when the Spaniards first landed in 1532 in Cajamarca, in the northern highlands of Peru. Unfortunately, Atahualpa was in this town when the conquistadors arrived and he was captured and kept prisoner. In order to free Atahualpa, the Spaniards were promised a room of gold; however, the conquistadors broke the deal, killed Atahualpa and kept the gold.
Many Peruvian historians argue that other cultures, such as the Cañaris or Chachapoyas helped the Spaniards to bring about the end the Empire. After the fall of the Tahuantinsuyo, the Spaniards appointed three more Incas. These then fought against the Manco Inca in the Vilcabamba area. The Empire saw its last days in 1572 with the execution of the last Inca, Túpac Amaru.
Conclusion
Travelling and volunteering abroad is not only visiting places and helping people. It is also about learning the history and culture of the places you are in. Now you’ve learnt a bit about the Inca Empire, when you walk around the city , you will see the history behind the place.
Proyecto Peru is a Volunteer and Language Centre focused on creating responsible volunteers by giving them the tools to have a great experience in Cusco. Check our website for volunteer and internship opportunities as well as our Spanish Language Immersion Program! You can also contact our team with any questions at info@proyectoperucentre.org
Article translated, expanded and adapted from Inca Rail.