Inca Empire Map in 3D: The Empire of the Andes
The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the Americas before the Europeans arrived. From its capital Cusco high in the Andes it stretched along the mountains of western South America, linked by a vast network of roads. On the 3D History Globe you can watch it spread from Peru to Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.
Explore in 3DInca Empire quick facts
| Dates | 1438 to 1533 |
|---|---|
| Capital | Cusco, Peru |
| Length | About 4,000 km along the Andes |
| People | Around 10 million or more |
| Famous rulers | Pachacuti, Túpac Yupanqui, Huayna Capac, Atahualpa |
Interesting facts
- Inca roads ran for around 40,000 km through mountains, deserts and forests.
- Farmers cut terraces into steep slopes to grow crops.
- The Incas kept records with knotted cords called quipu.
- They had no wheeled carts and no iron tools, yet built huge stone walls without mortar.
- Machu Picchu was a royal estate built high in the Andes.
Inca Empire timeline
- 1438Pachacuti begins turning the Inca state into an empire
- about 1450Machu Picchu is built
- 1471 to 1493Túpac Yupanqui pushes the empire south into Chile
- 1527Huayna Capac dies and a civil war follows
- 1532Francisco Pizarro captures Atahualpa
- 1533Atahualpa is executed and Cusco falls
On the History Globe, press play to watch these stages appear one by one, with the borders growing across the map.
More empires in 3D
Inca Empire questions
Where was the Inca Empire?
Along the Andes mountains of western South America, in today's Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Colombia.
What was the Inca capital?
Cusco, in the Andes of southern Peru.
What is a quipu?
A set of knotted cords the Incas used to record numbers and other information.
Who built Machu Picchu?
The Incas, around 1450, probably as a royal estate for the ruler Pachacuti.
How did the Inca Empire fall?
A civil war weakened it, and in 1532 the Spanish under Francisco Pizarro captured the ruler Atahualpa.
The 3D History Globe is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. Map borders are approximate, for learning.