Cuzco, Peru as the Oldest

Cuzco, Peru

As the oldest city in America with over 3000 years of age, Cusco has undergone numerous cultural changes and has attracted both settlers and tourists. The city is believed to have been inhabited by nomad tribes more than 10,000 years ago. There are several theories concerning its first inhabitants and the issue is controversial. Most theories revolve around the Inca mythology and the Manko Qhapaq and Pachakuteq as being the founding fathers of the city. Every year the city attracts tourists that feel astound and intrigued by its buildings and architecture. (Milla Vidal, C.)

Cusco is impressive for its gregarious people that managed to keep the city continuously populated for the last three millennia. The city also encouraged the building of other cities in its vicinity as a result of Cusco's success. Its native people consider the city to be a sacred place due to its position and due to the fact that they considered it was surrounded by twelve holy mountains. Being a center point for numerous pilgrimages, Cusco became a sacred city. The pilgrims also made their contribution to the development of the city by bringing along and sharing their knowledge and their tools. According to the legend, Cusco was founded by Manko Qhapaq who marked the place with a golden staff he received from his father, the sun. Manko's people started to populate the city and gradually turned it into a powerful city. As the city grew, its fame spread in the region and the neighboring tribes attempted an unsuccessful invasion known as "the war against the Chankas." (Milla Vidal, C.)

One of the first Inca leaders to see the opportunity of a potential union between Cusco and the surrounding villages was Inka Yupanqui. Starting at a young age, Yupanqui travelled a lot and observed that Cusco was encircled by a variety of lands with a high potential of being exploited. He anticipated that a union would create a city area with various climate conditions that would be geographically and economically enriched.

A first step in the process of unification was made when Cusco had been attacked by the Chanca Nation. Yupanqui took advantage of the fighting experience of his people and of the clever strategy he envisioned to fight back the invaders and to make a name for himself as "Pachakuteq Inka Yupanqui." Being in a higher position, Yupanqui formed alliances and ultimately succeeded in creating an Empire composed of the four parts of the world named Tawantinsuyo. The Northern part which was mainly formed of mountains became known as Kuntisuyo, the West which was mainly deserts and coastal areas became known as Chinchaysuyo, the South that was mainly plateau surrounding Lake Titikaka was called Quollasuyo, and the East which faced the Amazons was called Antisuyo. (Milla Vidal, C.)

Tawantinsuyo began to flourish with Cusco as its capital city and the Incas started to evolve as a race by taking in customs and traditions from all the villages they conquered. From there on, the Incas and their leader Pachakuteq were dedicated on having a capital worthy of its fame. At Pachakuteq's order, the city's architects and astronomers co-worked in reconstructing the city so that it would resemble a Puma. (Milla Vidal, C.)