Chapter 2
Latin America
Shaped By Its History

Section 2: The Incas: People of the Sun

A. As You Read
Directions: As you read Section 2, complete the following statements by writing the correct term in the space provided.

1. The Incan empire stretched from Ecuador south along the Pacific coast through Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

2. The city of Cuzco, now in present-day Peru, was the Incan center of government. A Spanish explorer who visited this city described it as large and handsome enough to compare to any city in Spain.

3. An extensive system of roads helped the Incas govern their vast empire.

4. Incan officials counted people in the empire so they could be taxed.

5. The main god of the Incas was Inti, the sun god.

6. In the 1500s, the Incas were conquered by the Spanish.

7. Descendants of the Incas still speak the Incan language called Quechua.

8. Today, descendants of the Incas still live in present-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Columbia.

B. Reviewing Key Terms
Directions: In the blanks provided below, write the definitions for the following key terms. Then add a sentence describing how people used each item.

9. aqueduct

A pipe or channel designed to carry water from a distant source to dry areas

10. quipu

Knotted string used to keep records