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Machu Picchu was a royal estate or a holy place of worship for the Inca rulers, whose civilization was all but destroyed by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. At its height, it was likely the most magnificent urban development of the Inca Empire; its enormous walls, terraces, and ramps appear to have been spontaneously carved out of the continuous rock escarpments. The upper Amazon basin and its diverse range of flora and animals are included in the natural environment found on the eastern slopes of the Andes.
See the fact file below for more information about Machu Picchu, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.
Key Facts & Information
History of Machu Picchu
- According to historians, the Inca Empire, which ruled over western South America throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, was at its height when Machu Picchu was constructed.
- It was abandoned when the Spanish started conquering the strong pre-Columbian culture in the 1530s, roughly 100 years after it was built.
- With the collapse of the final Incan capital in 1572, their dynasty of kings ended. Once a royal residence visited by powerful monarchs, It fell into ruin.
- However, there is no proof that the conquistadors actually attacked or even made it to the hilltop castle; as a result, some have proposed that a smallpox outbreak brought on the abandonment of the inhabitants.
- A small party of explorers led by an American archaeologist named Hiram Bingham journeyed to Peru in the summer of 1911 in quest of Vilcabamba. When a local farmer told Bingham and his crew that there were ancient ruins at the top of a nearby mountain, they traveled from Cuzco into the Urubamba Valley on foot and by mule.
- The farmer gave the mountain the name Machu Picchu, which is Quechua for “ancient peak” in English. On July 24, Bingham encountered a small group of peasants who led him the rest of the way after a challenging trek to the mountain’s ridge in chilly and rainy conditions. Bingham first saw an elaborate network of stone terraces that marked Machu Picchu’s entrance while being led by an 11-year-old kid.
- The Lost City of the Incas, a best-selling book by the enthusiastic Bingham, revealed his findings, inspiring crowds of eager visitors to travel Peru’s hitherto unknown Inca Trail in his wake.
- Additionally, he unearthed antiquities from Machu Picchu and brought them to Yale University for examination, starting a custody battle that lasted almost a century.
- It is not definite that Bingham was the first outsider to see Machu Picchu, even though he is credited with introducing it to the world. There is proof that missionaries and other explorers visited the location in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but they kept their discoveries to themselves.
Geography and Construction of Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu is located 13.111 degrees south of the equator in the southern hemisphere. It is located 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco, on the summit of the mountain Machu Picchu, at an elevation of around 2,430 meters above mean sea level.
- Machu Picchu has warm summers and cold winters, with most yearly rain occurring between March and October.
- Machu Picchu is located above the Urubamba River, which surrounds the site on three sides and has 450-meter-high cliffs descending to the river at its foot.
- Morning mists rise from the river and cover the region. The city’s location was a military secret, and its deep gorges and high mountains offered natural fortifications.
- The Inca Bridge, a grass rope bridge built by the Incas that crosses the Urubamba River in the Pongo de Mainique, gave the Inca army stealthy access. A second Inca bridge was erected west of Machu Picchu.
- The old city is situated in a valley between the mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. It has a difficult-to-manage spring-based water source. The hillsides leading up to it were terraced to increase the land for cultivation and make the slopes more difficult for the invaders.
- Two high-altitude pathways connect Machu Picchu to Cusco, passing through the Sun Gate and the Inca Bridge. Machu Picchu and other buildings were built on seismic faults in the region.
Architecture of Machu Picchu
- Around 200 of Machu Picchu’s structures qualify as architectural wonders. These structures were constructed from specially cut, precisely sized chunks of gray granite stone.
- The most extensive and most elaborate polygonal-shaped stones were employed in Inca architecture, which is well renowned for its usage in several holy structures. Thirty-three corners make up one temple wall at Machu Picchu.
- The ridge has an ample supply of gray granite that was utilized to create the city. Usually, earthquakes cause little parts to get detached, and large portions are extracted by beating on the bedrock’s natural fractures.
- It was challenging to get these rocks to the building site. Llamas were used to hauling small rocks. To get the granite blocks to the building site, laborers had to pull and push them with braided ropes and levers. These employees were mita laborers who paid taxes by working; in return for their labor, they received clothing, health care, education, and food.
- By striking massive granite blocks with boulders, stonemasons could flatten and round off their edges and corners, allowing each piece to fit together to form a wall. Given that they did not employ mortar or cement, the ability to precisely shape and fit a polygonal block against another is impressive. The most skilled Inca masons used obsidian pebbles, stone axes, and sand to polish the edges of stone blocks.
- The creation of truncated pyramids was a common sacred architectural style in other Inca sites, including Machu Picchu. Buildings had rectangular chambers with irregularly sized walls and a straw-covered roof constructed of wooden logs.
- The structures no longer have roofs owing to the passage of time. The Temple of the Sun is the only structure with a semicircular wall, and it was Machu Picchu’s most significant structure. Priests saw how the sun’s shadows through the windows created a mystical link with Inti.
Machu Picchu Today and Tourism
- Thousands of artifacts that Bingham brought to Yale University for examination throughout his years of travel and research were approved to be returned to Peru by Yale University in September 2007.
- The site is still being excavated and rebuilt by scientists. The reasons for its creation, the activities there, and its eventual abandonment may be revealed by modern scientific advancements, such as those that helped re-identify the gender of Bingham uncovered bones.
- Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is Peru’s most popular tourist destination and one of South America’s most well-known archaeological sites.
- Being declared a contemporary world wonder in a global referendum in 2007 was a mixed gift for the residents of Cusco, the old Inca capital and the nearest city to Machu Picchu. The location is a source of national pride and a lucrative tourism destination for Peru.
- Rising tourism, the growth of adjacent municipalities, and environmental deterioration continue to severely influence the area, which is also home to several endangered species. Recently, the Peruvian government made steps to conserve the remains and, as a result, stop slope erosion.
- The Central Plaza broadly divided the ceremonial part of Machu Picchu from the urban and commercial sectors. High green terraces and stone buildings flank this plaza without roofs.
- The House of the High Priest is a must-see while visiting Machu Picchu, even though very little is known about it. It is located across from Principal Temple in the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Three Windows, and it still has all four of its walls intact. These Inca buildings are regarded as some of the nicest in the region.
- One of Machu Picchu’s reconstructed structures and one of its most picturesque locations is the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock. On the carved rock beyond the home, it is said that Inca royalty was mummified here.
- The granite tablet known as Intihuatana is frequently mistaken for a sundial. Because there is no shadow now, many people think Inca astronomers utilized it to aid in predicting the solstices.
- Principal Temple was so expertly built that it earned its name. It is a remarkable example of Inca construction expertise. This enormous three-sided temple is situated in Machu Picchu’s Sacred Plaza and is made of exquisitely carved stone.
- The enormous sculpture of a condor’s head that gives the Temple of the Condor its name is a spectacular example of the stone craftsmanship accomplished by the Incas. This location is magnificent, and the spread wings of the condor sculpture are fashioned from granite outcrops. The head is said to have been used as a sacrificial altar.
- On Huayna Picchu, a secret temple known as The Temple of the Moon is hidden in a collection of exquisitely sculpted caverns. This building is special and has tremendous religious significance for the locals.
- Today, Machu Picchu is home to just llamas.
- Machu Picchu was made earthquake-resistant.
- The water infrastructure of Machu Picchu is highly developed.
- It takes two mountains to reach Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu was an astronomy observatory.
Machu Picchu Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the world heritage site Machu Picchu across 22 wonderful pages. These are ready-to-use Machu Picchu worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Machu Picchu, which is a 15th-century icon of Inca civilization, located in Peru, South America. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is considered to be a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Machu Picchu Facts.
- Fantastic Farmers!
- Machu Picchu Crossword.
- Llamas and Alpacas.
- Social Media Profile.
- A World of Beauty.
- Sketching Stone.
- Machu Picchu Quiz.
- Machu Picchu Wordsearch.
- Climbing Machu Picchu.
- Opinion Paragraph.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu was a royal estate or a holy place of worship for the Inca rulers, whose civilization was all but destroyed by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. At its height, it was likely the most magnificent urban development of the Inca Empire; its enormous walls, terraces, and ramps appear to have been spontaneously carved out of the continuous rock escarpments.
What is Machu Picchu famous for?
Machu Picchu, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is the most popular tourist destination in Peru and one of South America’s most well-known archaeological sites.
Why did Machu Picchu get abandoned?
It was abandoned when the Spanish started conquering the strong pre-Columbian culture in the 1530s, roughly 100 years after it was built.
What are five facts about Machu Picchu?
- Today, Machu Picchu is home to just llamas.
- Machu Picchu was made earthquake-resistant.
- The water infrastructure of Machu Picchu is highly developed.
- It takes two mountains to reach Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu was an astronomy observatory.
What happened at Machu Picchu?
With the collapse of the final Incan capital in 1572, their dynasty of kings ended. Once a royal residence visited by powerful monarchs, It fell into ruin.
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