INCA EMPIRE EXPANDS TO ECUADOR

By the 15th century the cultures had organized into ethnic populations. Various cities existed throughout the country and agriculture was the main product. The Incas arrived in the late part of the century to conquer the local tribes and incorporate the area into their kingdom. The story of the Incas is one of the few that has survived the test of time.

In 1463 Topa, son of the Pachacuti Inca Yapangui, a fierce warrior, marched on the Sierras of Ecuador. He fought the tribes and defeated some including the Quitus (the people of modern day Quito and for whom the city is named). He continued his march heading southwest to the coast. Once there he decided to set off on a great ocean voyage. Stories say he sailed either to the Galapagos or the Marquesas Islands. Eventually he returned to Ecuador to continue his efforts of subjugating the Ecuadorians living near the Gulf of Guayaquil and the Island of Puna.

Huayna Capac Topa's son with a Cañari princess (the people from modern day Cuenca), was finally able to conquer the remaining tribes around 1500 and incorporate Ecuador into the Incan Empire. During his reign the Inca Empire reached its greatest extent stretching from Ecuador to Chile.

A few aspects of life were unchanged by the Incas the local people continued practicing traditional religions and farming continued as their main subsistence. But there were dramatic changes, too. The Incas introduced the new crops of yucca, sweet potatoes, coca and peanuts and the use of irrigation and llamas was increased considerably. Previously land had been owned privately; under the new laws the community held the land collectively. Families were granted a small plot of land to grow food for their own consumption. The majority of the land was owned by the state and clergy and worked by the subjects. If the local people opposed the laws, the emperor simply relocated large parts of the local population to another area in the empire and replaced them with colonists.

Huayna Capac grew up in Ecuador and loved the land. He named Quito the second Inca capital. A road was built to connect the two capitals of Quito and Cusco. Cities and temples were built throughout the country. He married a Quitu princess and remained in the country until his death. When he died unexpectedly before naming an heir it caused turmoil throughout the empire.

Two of his sons sought the throne. Huáscar, born of Huaya Capac's sister in Cusco, was the legitimate heir. Atahualpa, born in Quito, was the favorite son. The brothers battled for 6 years killing many men and weakening the empire. Finally in 1532 near Chimborazo, Atahualpa with aid of two of his father's generals defeated his brother. Huáscar was captured and put in prison. Atahualpa became emperor only to face the arrival of the Spanish a few months later.

GALAPAGOS HISTORY

Discovery of the Galapagos Islands
Whalers in Galapagos
Charles Darwin visits Galapagos
Early Colonists - Settlement of Galapagos

ECUADOR HISTORY

Pre Columbian History
Inca Empire Extends to Ecuador
Spanish Conquest of Ecuador
Royal Audience of Quito - Spanish Rule
Republic of Ecuador
Modern Ecuador History