The Great Inka Road


Engineering an Empire

Journey with us as we explore the wonders of the
Qhapaq Ñan, the Inka Road.

TAWANTINSUYU
THE INKA EMPIRE


The Inka called their empire Tawantinsuyu, which means "the four regions together." At its peak, the empire covered much of western South America.

The Inka Empire rose rapidly and burned bright. In little more than 100 years, it grew from a small kingdom in the highlands of Peru to become the largest empire in the Americas.

The Qhapaq Ñan, or Road of the Inka, made this triumph possible. A vast complex of roads, bridges, and other structures, the Qhapaq Ñan was the largest construction in the Western Hemisphere when Inka power was at its height. The Inka state used the road system strategically to oversee diverse populations within an empire of 2 million square kilometers (772,000 square miles), the equivalent of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas combined.


The whole road is of one design...made by hand and breaking through mountain chains and hillsides...it is one of the greatest constructions that the world has ever seen.

—Miguel de Estete, Noticia del Perú [News from Peru], 1535


Learn More about the Great Inka Road

Ancestors of the Inka

ANCESTORS OF THE INKA

Inka Universe

INKA UNIVERSE

Colonial Invasion

INVASION

Inka Road Today

INKA ROAD TODAY