During which period did the Inca Empire begin to rise?

The rise of the Inca Empire can be traced to the mid-1400s, during which the empire began to consolidate its power and expand significantly under the leadership of significant rulers like Pachacuti. This period marked the transformation of the Kingdom of Cusco into a vast empire through strategic military conquests, cultural integration, and administrative innovations. The Inca initiated ambitious projects, such as building extensive road networks and establishing a centralized economy, which facilitated their expansion across the Andes. While there had been earlier occupation of the region and previous cultural developments, the mid-1400s represent the pivotal moment when the Inca Empire began its remarkable growth and dominance in South America, laying the groundwork for its later territorial extent in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.