Inca Empire Tawantinsuyu  (Quechua)
1438–1533/1572
The Inca Empire at its bigest size c. 1525
Capital	Cusco
Official languages	Quechua
Religion	Inca religion
Government	Divine, absolute monarchy semi-diarchy
Historical era	Pre-Columbian era
•	1438
• Civil war between Huáscar and Atahualpa	1529–1532
•	1533/1572
• End of the last Inca resistance	1572

Location of the Inca Empire

A view of Machu Picchu, "the Lost City of the Incas," now an archaeological site

The Inca were a pre-Columbian country and empire in the Andes of South America. The word Inca can also mean the emperor or king of the Inca people. It was the largest empire in the Americas, and was large even by world standards. It existed shortly before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.