Conquistadors: The Rise and Fall, April 18, 2024, Nat Geo, “The Inca Conquest”

Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador, embarks on a journey to conquer the Inca Empire in the upcoming episode of Conquistadors: The Rise and Fall. This episode, the second of two airing Thursday April 18 and titled “The Inca Conquest,” looks into the fall of the Inca Empire and the Spanish conquest of South America.

The Inca Empire, also known as Tawantinsuyu, was a vast empire that spanned western South America, from modern-day Ecuador to Chile, with its administrative, political, and military center in the city of Cusco. At its peak, the empire was home to around 12 million people, speaking over 30 different languages. The Inca civilization lacked many of the features associated with Old World civilizations, such as a wheel, draft animals, knowledge of iron or steel, and a written language. Instead, they relied on their impressive agricultural and roadway systems, monumental architecture, and a centralized religion and language to maintain a cohesive state.

Francisco Pizarro, born into a poor family in Trujillo, Spain, was drawn to the rumors of gold and riches in the New World. He obtained permission from the Spanish monarchy to conquer Peru and became its governor in 1532. Pizarro, along with his brothers and indigenous allies, first made contact with the Inca Empire in 1526. At the time, the empire was in the midst of a civil war between two sons of the Inca ruler, Huayna Capac—Atahualpa and Huáscar. Pizarro and his men strategically arrived when the empire was weakened by this internal conflict and the devastating impact of European diseases, such as smallpox.

In November 1532, Pizarro and his men captured the Inca ruler, Atahualpa, at the Battle of Cajamarca. The Spanish, with their superior weaponry and armor, easily defeated the Inca, killing around 2,000 of their warriors. Atahualpa offered a vast ransom for his release—a room filled with gold and twice as much silver. Despite fulfilling this offer, Pizarro executed Atahualpa in July 1533, charging him with various crimes.

With Atahualpa’s death, the Inca Empire lost its leader, and the empire’s decline accelerated. Pizarro and his army of 500 Spaniards advanced towards Cusco, the Inca capital, and by November 1533, they had conquered it. The Spanish installed Atahualpa’s brother, Manco Inca Yupanqui, as a puppet ruler, but he eventually rebelled and retreated to the mountains of Vilcabamba, establishing the Neo-Inca State. The Spanish continued their conquest, aided by their superior weaponry, horses, and the support of some indigenous groups who were unhappy with Inca rule.

The episode, “The Inca Conquest,” airing on National Geographic on Thursday, April 18, 2024, will explore the complex history of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, shedding light on the challenges faced by both the conquistadors and the Inca people.

Conquistadors: The Rise and Fall airs on National Geographic at 10:00 PM on Thursday, April 18, 2024.