The Inka tradition extends from 800 to 400 BP. The original Inka homeland was the Cuzco valley of south-central Peru, but the Inka Empire eventually extended along the Andes from Columbia to northern Argentina and Chile in the south and along the coast of Peru.The Inka rulers managed and integrated myriad multiethnic groups partly by imposing a state religion and partly by requiring their language (a Quechuan language) to be spoken by the conquered population. However, the rulers tolerated native religions and languages. The state was supported by “mita” or corvée labor. The economy was based primarily on maize, potatoes, and cotton production. The Inka are known for their Megalithic architecture and fine-cut stone masonry.
You can find an overview of the Inka culture in the “Browse” section of eHRAF Archaeology, or use the culture name in a Basic or Advanced Search for specific topics and keywords.