The Incas were prominent among the Andean civilizations. The Inca Civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century. They built a powerful empire by defeating their neighbours and were the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, and possibly the largest empire in the world in the early 16th century.
Under their great ruler, Pachacuti, they even extended their territory to the north, south and west. The Inca called their empire Tahuantinsuyu, meaning ‘land of four quarters’.
The Incas were unique in many aspects. They never used wheeled vehicles. Instead, they carried goods on llamas. They did not use metals such as iron and steel. Above all, they lacked a system of writing.
Today, it is remembered as one of the great civilizations that ever existed.