Who Were the Incas?

Long ago, a powerful group of people called the Incas lived in South America. They built a huge empire along the Andes Mountains. Their capital city was Cuzco, located in modern-day Peru.

The Incas were amazing builders and engineers. They created long stone roads over mountains and through valleys to connect their empire. They did not use wheels or horses. Instead, people walked, and llamas carried heavy bags. The Incas also built incredible stone buildings without using cement. The stones fit together so perfectly that you cannot put a knife between them!

Agriculture was very important to Inca life. Farmers grew crops like potatoes, corn, and quinoa on terraces. Terraces were step-like fields cut into the sides of steep mountains. This helped save water and stopped the soil from washing away.

In 1911, an explorer found Machu Picchu, a famous hidden Inca city high in the mountains. Today, millions of tourists visit Peru every year to see these incredible ruins and learn about the clever Inca civilization.

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Exercise 1: Questions

1. Where did the Incas live?
2. What was the name of the Inca capital city?
3. How did the Incas transport goods if they did not use wheels or horses?
4. How did the Incas fit the stones of their buildings together?
5. What are three crops that Inca farmers grew?
6. What were terraces, and why did farmers build them?
7. When was Machu Picchu found by an explorer?

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Exercise 2: True or False

1. The capital city of the Inca Empire was in modern-day Brazil.
2. The Incas built long stone roads through mountains and valleys.
3. Llamas carried heavy bags for the Incas.
4. The Incas used a lot of cement to hold their stone buildings together.
5. Terraces were flat fields cut into the sides of steep mountains.
6. Potatoes were one of the main crops grown by the Incas.
7. Machu Picchu is a modern city built in 1911.

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Exercise 3: Personal Questions

1. Would you like to visit Machu Picchu one day? Why or why not?
2. What is the most famous historical site in your country?
3. Have you ever hiked up a mountain or traveled along a mountain road?
4. Which crop mentioned in the story (potatoes, corn, or quinoa) do you eat most often?
5. Do you prefer living in a city in the mountains or near the ocean?

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Answer Key

Exercise 1: Questions

1. They lived in South America, along the Andes Mountains.
2. The capital city was Cuzco.
3. People walked, and llamas carried heavy bags.
4. They built them without cement, fitting the stones together perfectly.
5. They grew potatoes, corn, and quinoa.
6. Terraces were step-like fields cut into mountains. They helped save water and stopped soil from washing away.
7. Machu Picchu was found in 1911.

Exercise 2: True or False

1. False Cuzco is in modern-day Peru, not Brazil.
2. True
3. True
4. False They built stone buildings without using cement
5. True
6. True
7. False Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city that was found in 1911.