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 Cusco
was the capital of the Inca Empire (1200s-1532). Many believe that the
city was planned to be shaped like a puma[13]. The city had two sectors:
the urin and hanan, which were further divided to each encompass two of
the four provinces, Chinchasuyu (NW), Antisuyu (NE), Qontisuyu (SW) and
Collasuyu (SE). A road led from each of these quarters to the
corresponding quarter of the empire. Each local leader was required to
build a house in the city and live part of the year in Cusco, but only
in the quarter of Cusco that corresponded to the quarter of the empire
in which he had territory. After Pachacuti, when an Inca died his title
went to one son and his property was given to a corporation controlled
by his other relatives (a process called split inheritance), so each
title holder had to build a new house and add new lands to the empire,
in order to own the land his family needed to maintain after his death.
According to Inca legend, the city was built by Sapa Inca Pachacuti, the
man who transformed the Kingdom of Cusco from a sleepy city-state into
the vast empire of Tahuantinsuyu. But archaeological evidence points to
a slower, more organic growth of the city beginning before Pachacuti.
There was however a city plan, and two rivers were channeled around the
city. Archaeologists such as Larry Coben have suggested this city plan
was replicated at other sites throughout the empire.
The city fell to the sphere of Huáscar in the division of the empire
after the death of Huayna Capac in 1527. It was captured by the generals
of Atahualpa in April 1532 in the Battle of Quipaipan, and nineteen
months later by the Spaniards (see battle of Cuzco).
Post-Columbian Cusco
“ We can assure your majesty that it is so beautiful and has such fine
buildings that it would even be remarkable in Spain. ”
—Francisco Pizarro
The first Spaniards arrived in the city on November 15, 1533. Spanish
conquistador Francisco Pizarro officially discovered Cusco on March 23,
1534, naming it the "Very noble and great city of Cusco". The many
buildings constructed after the Spanish conquest are of Spanish
influence with a mix of Inca architecture, including the Santa Clara and
San Blas barrios. The Spanish undertook the construction of a new city
on the foundations of the old Inca city, replacing temples with churches
and palaces with mansions for the conquerors. During the colony, Cusco
was very prosperous thanks to the agriculture, cattle raising, mining as
well as the trade with Spain. This allowed the construction of many
churches and convents, and even a cathedral, university and
Archbishopric. Often, Spanish buildings were juxtaposed atop the massive
stone walls built by the Inca.
A major earthquake in 1950 badly destroyed the Dominican Priory and
Church of Santo Domingo, which were built on top of the impressive
Coricancha (Temple of the Sun). The city's Inca architecture, however,
withstood the earthquake. Many of the old Inca walls were thought to
have been lost after the earthquake, but the granite walls of the
Coricancha were exposed, as well as many walls throughout the city.
While some wanted to restore the buildings to their colonial splendor, a
contingent of Cusco citizens urged city officials to retain the exposed
walls. Eventually they won out. Cusco was also hit by a major earthquake
in 1650.
Republican era
Peru declared its independence in 1821 and the city of Cusco maintained
its importance within the administrative structure of the of the
country. Upon independence, the Department of Cusco was created and at
the time maintained authority over territory extending to the Brazilian
border. The city of Cusco was made capital of the department and
subsequently became the most important city in the south-eastern Andean
region.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city's urban sprawl spread to
the neighboring districts of Santiago and Wanchaq.
In 1911, explorer Hiram Bingham departed from the city, subsequently re-discovering
the ruins of Machu Picchu. |
Cusco
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