What was the capital of the Inca civilization?

The capital of the Inca civilization was Cuzco, which served as the political, administrative, and military center of the Inca Empire. Founded in the 12th century, Cuzco was strategically located in the Andes mountains, which allowed the Incas to effectively control and govern their vast empire that stretched across modern-day Peru and beyond.

Cuzco was not only significant for its role in governance but also held deep cultural and religious importance. It was regarded as the “navel of the world” by the Incas, symbolizing its centrality in their cosmology. The city was adorned with opulent temples and palaces, including the Temple of the Sun, and it was a hub for Incan society and culture.

The other locations listed, such as Lima and Quito, are important in their own right but were not the capital during the height of the Incan civilization. Machu Picchu, while an iconic and significant archaeological site, functioned primarily as a royal estate and religious site rather than the administrative capital of the empire.