Inca Civilization Quiz: Places, People and Key Facts

This Inca civilization quiz covers Cusco, Machu Picchu, Pachacuti, the Qhapaq Ñan road system, quipus, terrace farming and Atahualpa. Ten questions on places, people and key facts about the largest empire of the pre-Columbian Americas.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Capital
What was the Inca capital?
Ruler
Which emperor expanded the Inca Empire and built Machu Picchu?
Name
What did the Inca call their empire?
Roads
About how long was the Inca road network?
Records
What were knotted cords used for recording called?
Farming
How did the Inca farm steep mountains?
Language
Which language did the Inca spread?
Conquest
Which Inca emperor was captured by Pizarro in 1532?
Religion
Who was the Inca sun god?
Food
How did the Inca preserve potatoes?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What was the Inca capital?
Answer: Cusco
Cusco means navel of the world in Quechua.
Q2: Which emperor expanded the Inca Empire and built Machu Picchu?
Answer: Pachacuti
He reigned from about 1438.
Q3: What did the Inca call their empire?
Answer: Tawantinsuyu
It means the four parts together.
Q4: About how long was the Inca road network?
Answer: About 30,000 kilometers
Runners called chasquis carried messages.
Q5: What were knotted cords used for recording called?
Answer: Quipus
They recorded numbers and possibly language.
Q6: How did the Inca farm steep mountains?
Answer: Terraces
Terraces prevented erosion.
Q7: Which language did the Inca spread?
Answer: Quechua
Millions still speak it.
Q8: Which Inca emperor was captured by Pizarro in 1532?
Answer: Atahualpa
He offered a room filled with gold for his release.
Q9: Who was the Inca sun god?
Answer: Inti
Emperors claimed descent from Inti.
Q10: How did the Inca preserve potatoes?
Answer: Freeze-drying into chuño
They used cold nights and sun.

Inca Civilization Quiz – Empire of the Andes

The Inca Empire grew from Cusco in the 1400s into the largest empire in the Americas, stretching along the Andes from Ecuador to Chile. Rulers like Pachacuti built roads, cities and temples.

The Inca were brilliant engineers and organizers. Their road network linked the empire, terraces fed millions, storehouses kept food for hard times and quipus recorded information without writing.

In 1532, Spanish conquerors led by Pizarro arrived during a civil war and smallpox epidemic. They captured Atahualpa, and the empire fell. Yet Inca culture and Quechua language survive today.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for history fans exploring the Inca.

What the capital was
Who built Machu Picchu
How long the roads were
What quipus were
How the empire fell

Did You Know?

Llamas carried goods on Inca roads.
Sacsayhuamán has giant stones.
Inti Raymi is still celebrated.
The Inca had no wheels for carts.
Rope bridges crossed gorges.