Machu Picchu in Peru, the hidden Inca empire that the Spanish never found
Machu Picchu in Peru was the realm of the Incas. This and other kingdoms of the Incas in the South American countries were already very well established when the Spaniards announced their arrival in South America in the 1500th century. At its peak, there were 15 million. residents of the Incarct. In other words, the Incas had created a gigantic kingdom, especially with the population of the time, a kingdom that extended from Colombia in the north to northern Argentina and Chile in the south.
It was big in every way but the then brutal Spaniards changed it all. One Inca city after another fell to the Spanish conquerors, who were far better equipped militarily, but not Machu Picchu, for the Spaniards never found it. Perhaps because of its hard-to-reach location, which the Incas no doubt had in mind when choosing the place. Slowly, the city slipped into the darkness of oblivion, until an American historian and explorer rediscovered the city in the abandoned ruin in 1911. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the American historian from Yale University, Hiram Bingham. He later wrote several books and articles on Machu Picchu. His book The Lost City of the Incas became a bestseller. The city received even more publicity when, in 1913, National Geographic magazine devoted its entire April issue to Machu Picchu.
Map of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu in Peru (Quechua Machu Pikchu) is a well-preserved pre-Columbian city, located on a high ridge at 2.057 meters above Urubamba Valley, approx. 80 km from Cuzco in southern Peru. It is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Machu Picchu was the Inka boss's retreat
It is believed that the city was built from around the year 1400 by Sapa Inka Pachacuti. SapaInka or also called Qhapaq was the supreme leader and king of the Kingdom of Cuzco and later also of the Inca Empire (
Machu Picchu was inhabited until the Spanish conquest in 1532. Archaeological finds show that it was not an average city, but rather a form of retreat for Inca leaders and "nobles". It is estimated that a maximum of only about 750 people may have lived in the city and probably fewer in the rainy season when none of the powerful Incas were visiting. Only 173 skeletons have been found, of which 150 were women. What happened to them is shrouded in mystery. Machu Picchu was abandoned by the Incas for unknown reasons and "forgotten", probably because its function was no longer necessary after the Spanish conquest.
Came to Machu Picchu in Peru via Cusco
Gateway to Machu Picchu and the only road into the earth is Cusco, the former capital of the Incarceration and one of the oldest cities still existing since the 1400th century in the Western world. The connection with Cuzco consists only of a narrow-gauge railway. Last stop by road connection from Cuzco is Ollantaytambo, about two and a half hours train ride from Machu Picchu. Ollantaytambo can be reached by car or bus from Cuzco. A popular alternative to trains is to wander the Inkastien. Good trip!
The story of Cusco follows!
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