The Incas and the Spanish and the Columbian Exchange
FRANCISCO PIZARRO AND ATAHUALPA
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador. He is famous for conquering the Inca Empire in South America between 1531 and 1533.
Pizarro was born in Spain in 1475. He was a pig farmer as a boy. As a young man, he joined a ship traveling to the New World. In 1502, at the age of 27, he landed on the island of Hispaniola. He learned a lot about exploration and conquering the native people. He traveled with Vasco de Balboa on his famous exploration of Central America in which Europeans first sighted the Pacific Ocean.
In 1523, he led a voyage to explore the west coast of South America, south of Panama. He came across some Indian traders, who told of a rich country to the south. He learned that these people were the Inca and that they lived in the area of what is now Peru. Over the next few years, Pizarro went back to Spain to get permission to invade and conquer the Inca.
The Spanish king gave Pizarro permission to take the Inca land and claim it as part of Spain. He made Pizarro a viceroy (governor) over the lands stretching six hundred miles south from Panama. He also gave him three ships, about two hundred men, and three dozen horses to make his plan work. Pizarro began his mission in 1531.
Atahualpa was the last ruler of the Inca Empire. Inca land stretched two thousand miles along the Pacific Coast of South America. Atahualpa was the son of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac. After his father’s death, Atahualpa fought against his brother for control of the empire. Atahualpa won the battle and became Sapa Inca. The Sapa Inca was thought to be a living descendant of the sun god.
The Sapa Inca was very wealthy. He was carried by servants from place to place on a special chair called a litter. He wore gold jewelry and ate from gold plates and cups. He was considered to be almost a god. Each day, he was given new clothes to wear. Even the walls of his palace were gold and silver.
Pizarro learned the location of Atahualpa. In November 1532, a meeting was arranged between the two men at Cajamarca. The small group of Spanish men hid in buildings around the town. They hid their guns, cannons, and horses. Atahualpa arrived with thousands of men.
Atahualpa walked into a trap. When Pizarro came out, the Spanish began shooting their cannons and guns, which were unknown to the Inca. This startled and frightened the Inca warriors, and the guards around Atahualpa were killed. Pizarro captured Atahualpa and demanded a ransom. The Inca brought 24 tons of gold and silver in exchange for the life of Atahualpa. The gold and silver were melted into bars, and most were sent back to Spain for the king. However, Atahualpa was not released.
Atahualpa was executed on August 29, 1 533, by Pizarro and his men. Atahualpa’s death ended the empire of the Inca. Even though some warriors still fought, the empire was gone because it had no recognized leader.
The Spanish settlements in Peru began to grow. Gold and silver continued to be taken from the Inca and shipped back to Spain. Pizarro grew wealthy. He founded the city of Lima and built a palace there. Some of the other Spanish leaders were jealous of Pizarro’s wealth. They tried to take over his palace in 1 541. Pizarro was killed in the attack. For nearly 300 years, the Spanish ruled the lands once held by the Inca.
THE IMPACT OF THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE ON LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE
Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World in 1492. This event started an exchange between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (the Americas). As the Spanish spread their empire, the indigenous population (or native people) began to decline. The Europeans introduced Africans in the New World as slaves. The Africans also became a part of this exchange. Today we know this as the Columbian Exchange, since it began as a result of Columbus’s discovery.
One important part of the Columbian Exchange was the exchange of food plants. Cocoa, corn, potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes grew in Central and South America. The Spanish and Portuguese discovered these foods and took them back to Europe. European crops brought from Europe and Africa to the New World included coffee, peaches, sugar, and wheat. Farming changed in the New World. Large plantations with slave labor were started. Sugar cane was one important plantation crop.
The indigenous population was defeated by diseases that were also part of the Columbian Exchange. The Europeans brought with them many diseases that the native people had not seen before. Their bodies did not have immunity (natural resistance) to the diseases, and their healers did not know how to treat the diseases. Some of the diseases brought to the New World were influenza, measles, smallpox, and typhoid fever. Between 50 and 75 percent of the population of some native tribes may have lost their lives to these diseases.
Europeans introduced certain animals to the New World. These included pigs, cows, goats, and bees. The horse was a culture-changing animal. It allowed native people to travel further and faster. The horse was useful in battle and hunting. Horses helped the indigenous people spread their territory and trade with other tribes.
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