Inca civilization reached its zenith in Peru in mid-15^th century though the origin of the Inca Empire goes back to the 8th century. Although the Inca empire was governed from its two principal seats of power, Cuzco, the capital, and Machu Picchu, the Inca territory spun most of the principal regions of the Andes mountains. They built a complex road system that connected the many villages and population centers belonging into the empire, known as Qhapaq Ñan, the Camino Principal Andino.

Starting in the decade of 1430, Inca emperors began the conquest of the various regions of the Andes. By 1525 Incas integrated extensive territories of South America into the empire, and the Camino Andino, the principal north – south axis, lead from the southern region of contemporary Colombia all the way to the center of Chile, and through an artery system of intersecting east – west roads covered what was called "Land of the Four Quadrants" or Tawantinsuyu, converging in the city of Cuzco, the empire’s capital.
 
 The Tawantinsuyu included most of Central and North Peru, Ecuador, the south of Colombia, the basin of Lake Titicaca, most of Bolivia, the highlands of Argentina down to the province of Mendoza, and roughly the northern half of Chile.
 
 Camino Andino,  or the Inca Trail aka Inca Royal Road, reflected the complex, effective and integrative organization of the state. Messages were sent by runners who relayed along the 2 to 4 meters wide, sometimes cobblestone paved roads. With its coast roads, the highlands roads and a great net of secondary and traverse roads, the Inca Trail system united all the parts of the empire facilitating its administration and communication among the settlements of the empire. It is from this standpoint that the Inca Trail constitutes a heritage resource of importance and for this reason in 2001 Camino Andino Pricipal, or Qhapaq Ñan, has been submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for inclusion in the World Heritage List of sites and monuments of historical significance, though its admission is still pending.

Even though the Inca culture flourished for a little over than a hundred years before its ultimate destruction by the Spanish Crown, the Incas have made number of contributions to the collective heritage of mankind. Navigate this site for books, DVDs, music and video, as well as arts and crafts that recount the cultural heritage of the Incas and that of the spine of the Andes today. Find answers to questions such as:

Who were the Incas?

When did the Incas live?

Where the Incas lived?

How did the Incas communicate?

What type of houses did the Incas live in?

Do The Incas Still Exist?

Did the Incas have a written language?

Were did The Incas come from?

Did the Incas explore the Pacific?

How did the Incas live?

Who discovered the Incas?

What did the Incas wear?

How did the Incas farm?

What kind of weapons did the Incas use?

What was the leader of the Incas called?

How did the Incas get their food?

How did the Incas traded?

What are interesting facts about the Incas?

What jobs did the Incas do?

What inventions were the Incas famous for?

What were some of the activities the Incas did?

How did the Incas tell the time?

What were some of the accomplishments of the Incas?

What technology did the Incas have?

What were some achievements of the Incas?

How did Incas use llamas?

What kind of sports did the Incas play?

What did the Incas do in their daily life?

What do the Incas and Aztecs have in common?

And find answers to present day cultures of the Andes, namely those of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile:

How were the Andes Mountains formed?

What is the highest mountain in the Andes?

How long is the Andes mountains?

Why are the Himalayas higher than the Andes?

How did the Andes form?

What is the weather like in the Andes?

What does the word Andes mean?

How were the Andes created?

What is the height of Andes mountains?

How far south do the Andes mountains reach?

Is Machu Picchu in the Andes?