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Machu Picchu: A summer retreat fit for an emperor — explore the remarkable enterprise of the Inca Empire

The Inca developed an incredible network which stretched for 40,000 kilometres, from modern-day Ecuador to Argentina. Venturing from the coast to the clouds, the Inca transformed one of the most challenging landscapes in the world.

The Sacred Mountains of the Andes

At over 6,000 metres, Mt Ampato is one of the highest mountains in Peru, and a place were the Inca used in one of their most dramatic and powerful religious ceremonies: human sacrifice. To the Incan eye, the landscape of their empire was riddled with shrines. Often these were inanimate objects like rocks and streams. But among the holiest places in the empire were mountain peaks, which the Inca and other peoples in the Andes often regarded as representing the origin points of societies, and the resting places of their ancestors.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Inca mastery of landscape and environment is epitomised at Machu Picchu, their most famous ruin. Many archaeologists believe Machu Picchu was a summer retreat for the emperor and his family.

Moray, Peru

The Inca transformed agriculture in the Andes, using dramatic terraces like these at Moray to grow warm-weather crops in a cold-weather climate.

Keswa Chaca Bridge, Peru

The Inca Empire encompassed mountains, forests, desert, and coastal plains. In order to move armies and people quickly and efficiently around this landscape, the Inca needed roads. When the landscape proved too inhospitable for stone, they used straw, constructing beautiful bridges like the Keshwa Chaca bridge – which is still in use today.

San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador

After the Conquest, the Spanish quickly imposed their own religion on the Empire. One of the first churched they built was San Francisco de Quito – constructed on top of the palace of the last undisputed Inca leader, Atahualpa.

More about the programme

In a two part series, Dr Jago Cooper travels through Peru and Ecuador to reassess the origins, accomplishments and nature of one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen.

Episode One, Foundations examines how the Inca transformed one of the most challenging landscapes in the world to ward off the worst effects of the climate, and created sophisticated systems of communication.

The second and final episode explores the legacy and reveals the strengths of the empire became factors in its rapid demise. The Spanish conquest and the clash of world views which would evenutally destroy the Inca.

Dr Jago Cooper examines the Inca legacy