6. Pizarro and Panama

Pizarro's arrival in Peru, 1532

The Inca Empire - the emperor Huayna Capac

Significance of Huayna Capac's death

- 1528, outbreak of smallpox killed thousands of Incas and then Capac himself

- He left his empire to his 2 sons Atahuallpa and Huascar

- This resulted in civil war and Atahuallpa won and Huascar was killed

Francisco Pizarro realised the civil war gave him a chance to seize power.

He arrived in Peru in April 1532 and approached Atahuallpa's camp on 15 November 1532

When invited by Atahuallpa to take a drink, the Spanish poured in away and threatened the Incas by riding their horses near them.

Atahuallpa invited Pizarro to meet him the next day in the town square at Cajamarca, where they would be given lodgings

Battle of Cajamarca - 16 November 1532

The Spanish arrived early and hid in the square.

Atahuallpa was offered a Bible by the Friar but threw it on the ground and said his Inca God was better

The Spanish attacked from their hiding places and thousands of Incas were killed and Atahuallpa was taken prisoner

The murder of Atahuallpa, 1533

The Spanish agreed to ransom Atahuallpa for a room full of gold and double of silver. he gave it but the Spanish still did not release him.

They put him on trial for treason and executed him

Pizarro puts Manco on the throne

He was the 3rd son of Huayna Capac and was a puppet king to the Spanish

Manco escaped the Spanish and led an Incan Revolt. He assembled an army and attacked the Spanish base at Cuzco

The Siege of Cuzco, 1536-37

10 000 Inca warriors faced 150 Spanish and 1000 native allies

The Inca warriors broke into the town and attempted to burn buildings to drive the Spanish back but they put out the fires

The Spanish used their cavalry to attack the Inca warriors

The Spanish captured the fortress of Sacsahuaman from the Incans and then they besieged

The siege ended when Spaniards exploring Chile returned

Manco withdrew and established a separate kingdom

Impact of the conquest

Pizarro governed Peru until his death in 1541

Disease (eg measles and smallpox) reduced the Incan empire by 93 percent

Conquest led to the destruction of Inca civilisation and many were reduced to slavery

The conquistadores took gold, silver and other items - shipping some back to Spain

Inca Empire was settled by Spaniards (conquistadores and merchants who wanted to make money)

Conquistador revolt in Peru, 1544

New Laws were unpopular with the encomenderos as they reduced their power

This led to a revolt led by Gonzalo Pizarro (Francisco Pizarro's brother)

The rebellion was successful and Gonzalo ruled for 2 years.

However, the arrival of Spanish army led to his execution and restoration of Spanish authority

La Paz was built to commemorate ending of Pizarro's revolt

- Administrative centre of Spanish empire

- Demonstrated Spain was highest authority

- Spanish viceroy placed here

-City was close to trade routes and high up so less vulnerable to attack

- Establishment represented the peak of conquistador conquest