Human Heritage: A World History

Chapter 8: Africa and the Americas

Web Activity Lesson Plans

“Machu Picchu”

Introduction
Students have read about the wealthy Inca rulers and how their palaces were the size of towns. In this lesson, students will learn about the Inca ruin of Machu Picchu and its ancient inhabitants.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Machu Picchu Web site to investigate the ruins of Machu Picchu. Students will read about the ancient city's history, view photos of the ruins, and learn about the geography and archaeology of the area. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by writing journal entries imagining they have just finished hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Instruction Objectives

1. Students will be able to characterize the Inca civilization and summarize how geography affected the lives of the Inca.
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to write a journal entry detailing their hike on the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. It is believed that Pachacuti Inca built Machu Picchu as a royal estate or religious retreat in around 1460 A.D.
2. The Inca population was increasing and the organization of the people became stronger. They built enormous fortresses on top of steep mountains in order to enable them to see their enemies and defend themselves.
3. Small pox, brought by the Spanish to South America, killed 50 percent of the Inca population by 1527. The government began to fail, part of the empire seceded, and the Inca fell into civil war. When the conquistadors arrived in 1532, Machu Picchu had been forgotten.
4. The intihuatana was a column of stone rising from a block of stone the size of a grand piano. As the winter solstice approached, when the sun seemed to disappear more each day, a priest would hold a ceremony to tie the sun to the stone to prevent the sun from disappearing altogether.
5. Students' journal entries will vary.