Cusco History

As other great civilizations cores, the history of Cusco begins between legends and myths. From a fabulous couple rising from the Titicaca´s depths to a brotherhood of magic humans turned to bird-shaped stones or mountains.

Both tales named Cusco as the place where everything began. The place where Manco Capac successfully plunged his sacred crook and Mama Ocllo taught people new techniques and commandments. Cusco is the source of the Inca´s Empire historic splendor.

But the Cusco history didn´t begin with the Incas. There are lots of archaeological discoveries, enough to calculate Cusco´s age as 3,000 years old; that without counting the prehistoric era, about ten thousand years old. Three of the last centuries belong to the Inca´s history. Before the incas, the Marcavalli and the Alcawisas o Wallas populated the region, establishing the cultural bases for the appearing of the great Inca´s Empire.

A common factor on every past culture that developed in Cusco was the peaceful incorporation of the different knowledge and habits of captured tribes of those periods. This including way of expansion was passed to the Incas as an immensely valuable philosophy. That´s how this society was influenced by the hard characteristics of the region, where the Andean mountains sheltered an infinite diversity of exotic flora and fauna. It also had very fertile valleys, but the incas also took advantage of the whole terrain, building terraces to extend the cultivation areas.

As the researchers established in the past, there were 13 Inca emperors that rule the region through all its history, divided in a Local period and an Expansion period. The first period strengthened the kingdom enough to undertake the second period of its history. This Incas came from an ancient dynasty of leaders, trained by their fathers on the arts of war and ruling. They were educated wisely on the importance of learning from the past. Their skills made them true leaders for their nation and allowed the Empire to expand very fast.

The expansion began with Pachacutec, the greatest of all the Incas Emperors, in the 15^th century. He reorganized the empire for the colonization and a fast expansion took place. During this period, the Tawantinsuyu reached its farthest borders, from the Ancasmayo river in Colombia to the Maule River in Chile. Pachacutec  also divided the territory in four political regions: Antisuyu (east), Contisuyu (center), Collasuyu (south) and Chinchaysuyu (northwest). Cusco City was right on their crossing point.

The unstoppable advance of Pachacutec seeded fear and respect all over the continent. All governors from different places recognized his authority and knew about his amazing military achievements. Some scholars have compared this period of Cusco with the Roman Empire, considering the size of the territory, the sophistication of its culture and the role they played on mankind´s history.

Pachacutec is also known as the first historic Inca, and he ordered the construction of Machu Picchu, the sacred citadel located in the Urubamba valley. These historic ruins are world famous because of its wonderful landscapes, the wildlife and vegetation richness of the region and the history that lies inside every block of stone of the citadel.

Cusco, the capital of the Inca´s Empire became the strongest city of the whole continent at Pachacutec times, compiling the most wonderful collection of knowledge, beliefs, arts, buildings and culture. The inca trail, the huge communication system grew, reaching its peak on the Huayna Capac period.

Huayna Capac, another historic inca leader, fortified the achievements of Pachacutec, maintaining a strict control of his domains and at the same time, finding ways of creating good relations with the surrendered people. This was a time of peace and cultural growing of the Empire.

But this splendor wouldn´t last forever. Amid a grave conflict between two Incas, Huascar and Atahualpa, the spanish conquerors  arrived to Cusco on the 16th century, destroying the Empire and moving the main city to Lima. Cusco was reduced to a secondary city in the colonial society, but it was always the first one into the people´s heart.

During the Spanish occupation, the two cultures crashed in many ways. One of them was the architecture. Almost every single building of Cusco city was demolish, some of them partially. The lasts were used as bases to many beautiful spanish baroque churches and cathedrals. An example of this historic and cultural mixing is the temple of Koricancha.

But the two cultures also merged in music, religion and clothes. A whole new society was emerging from this cataclysmic event. Local beliefs as the payment to the Apus merged with the Corpus Christi ceremonies. The colorful magic of Inca´s art managed to infiltrate the Cusco churches, the colonial paintings and the clothes, from skirts to hats. The Spanish instruments like harps and guitars were used to play and modify ancient inca chanting and songs.

At the same time, the stronger resistance in the Andean history was organized, and names like Manco Inca, Tupac Amaru II and Mateo Pumacahua became famous for their bravery. Much of that fight took place on the distant mountains of the region, far away from Cusco. The rebellion last many years and took lot of lives before the country get its independence.

Cusco is a cosmopolitan city now, proud if its history and of the role their ancestors played in humankind development. Proves of that past are all around Cusco; a permanent reminder of the ancient greatness of the Inca´s empire and the power of a  people that manage to save its culture despite the long occupation.

Take a trip to Cusco: you´ll get the journey of your life.