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The Civilization of the Incas > 
The Incas ruled a land that is a little larger than Peru, most of which was made up of two parallel mountain ranges with high plateaus. Most of the land is 3,000 meters above sea level. Here is where the Amazon jungle lies. Beyond the coastal ranges no rain falls down at all. It is full of desert, although a few short torrential rivers cut their way to the sea. Sometimes there is a mist that covers the desert and leaves a nice coldness through out the land which can last for many months of the year. Peruvian life was based on fishing and on the plateau animal breeding was very common. The forest supplied tropical fruit, animal skins and brilliant feathers.
Francisco Pizarro had heard of a land of gold. In 1531, with permission from the Spanish king, he set sail with less than 200 men to conquer an Empire ot six million people. He had picked up tips from the conquest of the of the Aztec Empire. He now learned about the Inca civil war and realized that this was the best time to strike.
Some Spanish offcials met Inca Atahualpa outside Cajamarca. He agreed to meet Pizaro in the town. The Spanish quickly entered the deserted town and took up their positions. When the Inca approached, Pizarro invited him to dinner. To everyone's amazement the Inca accepted saying that those with him would be unarmed. When he arrived a priest tried to convert him to Christianity. This was signal for the attack. Within 30 minutes up to 3000 Incas had been killed. An Empire was gone forever.
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