Machu Picchu Terraces
Located in the Urubamba Valley, aka the Sacred Valley, most archeologists now believe that Machu Picchu was the private estate of the 9th Inca emperor Pachacuti or Pachacútec. Once the Inca emerged from their ancestral lands around the border area of modern Peru and Bolivia, and began to conquer vast tracts of land, they established their capital at the site of modern day Cusco, Peru around 1420. Just like all roads led to Rome in the Roman Empire, thousand of miles of roads and trails led to Cusco in the Inca Empire. Neither Machu Picchu nor Cusco were ever completed due to the Spanish conquest that began with a military campaign by Francisco Pizarro in 1532. It took 40 years to finally vanquish the Inca. Pizarro was only successful due to a civil war caused by the sons of Pachacútec. He was able to recruit the emperor's rival brother to his side. Machu Picchu was used as a stronghold by the Inca for many years but was eventually abandoned. Terraces below the main level were used to grow food especially maize which was used to make a fermented drink used in festivities and rituals. (There's little doubt that the beverage was called 'Hazy Maizy.")
Machu Picchu Terraces
Located in the Urubamba Valley, aka the Sacred Valley, most archeologists now believe that Machu Picchu was the private estate of the 9th Inca emperor Pachacuti or Pachacútec. Once the Inca emerged from their ancestral lands around the border area of modern Peru and Bolivia, and began to conquer vast tracts of land, they established their capital at the site of modern day Cusco, Peru around 1420. Just like all roads led to Rome in the Roman Empire, thousand of miles of roads and trails led to Cusco in the Inca Empire. Neither Machu Picchu nor Cusco were ever completed due to the Spanish conquest that began with a military campaign by Francisco Pizarro in 1532. It took 40 years to finally vanquish the Inca. Pizarro was only successful due to a civil war caused by the sons of Pachacútec. He was able to recruit the emperor's rival brother to his side. Machu Picchu was used as a stronghold by the Inca for many years but was eventually abandoned. Terraces below the main level were used to grow food especially maize which was used to make a fermented drink used in festivities and rituals. (There's little doubt that the beverage was called 'Hazy Maizy.")