Unfazed by the harsh Andean topography and climatic conditions, the Incas accomplished greatness, conquering people and exploiting sites in various settings such as plains, mountains, deserts, and tropical jungle. The unique architectural structures devised by the Inca empire are distinctly palpable as a display of dominance. They built robust and striking buildings wherever they triumphed, and astonishingly adapted the natural terrain. One of the most momentous confirmations of their advanced infrastructural proficiency is the enduring city of Machu Picchu. It is situated on a ridge between the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu peaks in Peru and stands at two thousand, four hundred and thirty metres above sea level, overlooking the Urubamba River. It has been donned one of the most infamous archaeological sites in modern society, covering thirty-two thousand, five hundred hectares of Peruvian land, and its supreme preservation is indicative of the quality architecture and precision prominent for the civilisation, remarkable for their lack of iron apparatuses. The first documentation of the existence of the site was initially published in 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham III, a professor at Yale University. The structures of the city were built from granite stones extracted and …show more content…
The Inca empire formed outstanding works of metal, ceramics and textiles, distinctive in their own right of a unique style, an instantaneously identifiable indication of imperial dominance during their reign. The highly polished metalwork produced by the Incas is representative of various religious and spiritual links. Those formed from gold were deemed the sweat of the sun, while silver was considered the tears of the moon. A multitude of Incan designs involved geometrical patterns and served as representation of specific communities and their cultural heritage. “Cloth above all else, was especially prized by the Incas and represents their greatest artistic achievement” writes Gordon McEwan of Wagner College, in his book “The Incas: New Perspective” (ABC-CLIO, 2006). The Incas grew cotton and sheared wool to produce their sophisticated textile works. The finest grade of cloth was called cumpi, and was solely reserved for the emperor and noble men. In comparison, ceramics were for wider use yet equally superior to any former Andean work. The most common form was the urpu, a spherical basin with a tall neck and coupled handles. Unlike many other great ancient civilizations, the Incas did not engrain representations of themselves into their artistic work, however some contained images of gods and were utilized for sacrificial rituals. One