Discovering The Amazing History of Machu Picchu
Ultima actualización en 5 November, 2024 por Waman Adventures
Last Updated on 5 November, 2024 by Waman Adventures
Welcome, intrepid travelers, to a magical corner to discover the history of Machu Picchu. In this blog created by Waman Adventures, we will immerse ourselves in the mysteries and wonders of this ancient lost city, an archaeological treasure that breathes stories of the Inca civilization.
Imagine, for a moment, being surrounded by the vastness of the mountain range, with mist embracing the peaks and the echo of ancient whispers floating in the air. Machu Picchu, an archaeological enclave that seems to emerge from the very bowels of the earth, is much more than stone and landscape. It is a silent testimony to the greatness of a civilization that flourished in harmony with nature.
WHAT IS MACHU PICCHU?
Machu Picchu is the most famous and well-known Inca archaeological complex in the world and has been a source of admiration and research since its discovery. It is believed that it still maintains inconclusive data that could d reveal more about the history of Machu Picchu, as well as that of the Incas.
Discover the wonder of Machu Picchu and all its mysteries.
ALTITUDE OF MACHU PICCHU
Deep in the Peruvian mountainous jungle at 2,430 meters/7,972 feet above sea level, lies the great Inca citadel known as Machu Picchu, a conglomerate of constructions that defies logic, being a source of admiration for travelers and researchers from all over the world.
HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU
According to data and studies, it is known that the Inca culture reached the peak of its power in the XV century, thanks to its construction of trails known today as the famous Inca Trail (Qhapaq Ñan), which covered a network of approximately 16,000 km between the territories of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and of course Peru.
Machu Picchu is their most impressive evidence of the great domain and knowledge they had on engineering and architecture, which stands out thanks to its different constructions such as terraces, water channels and cities that could be compared with the complexity of Ancient Rome.
MACHU PICCHU BEFORE THE INCAS
Very little is known about the history of Machu Picchu before the Incas, however, ceramic pieces have been found that could belong to the Marcavalle Culture, which is 3,000 B.C. These findings have been very scarce, so it is presumed that Machu Picchu, Vitcos and Vilcabamba, belonged to isolated families such as the Killke (predecessor cultures to the Incas).
WHO WERE THE INCAS?
The Inca civilization was the most advanced in all of South America, during the entire regime of the 13 Incas, who governed a people divided into social classes. The Incas had a language known as “Quechua” and whose main deity was the Sun “Inti”. In this impressive culture, gold objects were considered clothing accessories only for the high society, such as rulers and priests, being more a decorative element than a monetary one.
The Inca culture governed a large part of South America.
SECTION 2: ORIGIN AND CONSTRUCTION OF MACHU PICCHU
WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHU PICCHU?
According to early research on the history of Machu Picchu, it was believed that it was built to serve as a military fortress and a resting place for the Inca Pachacuteq and his family. However, further studies have revealed that Machu Picchu was built as a place of religious worship.
A combination of factors that make Machu Picchu a unique destination.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHU PICCHU ACCORDING TO HISTORY
As already mentioned, before Machu Picchu was built, the whole area was inhabited by neighboring populations and it is thanks to the expansion of the Inca empire, that all these territories became part of the immense Tahuantinsuyo. Thanks to the tests carried out with “Carbon 14”, it is dated that the history of Machu Picchu and its construction took place in the year 1,450 A.C.
In this citadel, there were cultivation fields, where the labor force was in charge of people coming from different areas of the empire, known as “Mitimaes”. And it is presumed that the first inhabitants of this Inca city were the “Chachapoyas”, a people coming from the northern part of the mountainous jungle of Peru, after being conquered by the Incas.
WHO BUILT MACHU PICCHU?
According to the data recovered about the history of Machu Picchu, it is said that this citadel was ordered to be built by the Inca Pachacuteq, during the peak of Inca expansion. It was continued by his son Tupac Yupanqui as part of the conquest of the Sacred Valley.
Pachacuteq was an Inca with great visions of expansion.
STAGES OF THE HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU
HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU IN THE INCA PERIOD
During this time, Machu Picchu was an important and outstanding urban/religious center, where its fine polished stone constructions and beautiful temples such as the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, Temple of the 3 Windows and more stand out. It is believed that during this time, Machu Picchu was home to between 300 to 1000 inhabitants, being its greatest moment of splendor. Most of the inhabitants were dedicated mainly to agriculture and a small part was dedicated to religious rites.
HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU DURING THE WARS IN VILCABAMBA
The history of Machu Picchu determines it as a strategic point during the wars undertaken by Manco Inca and the rebels of Vilcabamba, between 1537 and 1572. According to some historians, Machu Picchu was radically uninhabited, because many of its inhabitants were recruited to join the rebel army of Manco Inca.
That is why the few inhabitants who managed to remain in the citadel of Machu Picchu, continued their work as cultivation, to supply the soldiers of Vilcabamba. In addition, some remains found in the city indicate that they snatched cattle from the Spaniards to survive.
According to some chronicles about the history of Machu Picchu, it is said that in the year 1570, the Inca Titu Cusi Yupanqui reached an agreement with the Spaniards so that the Augustinian friars could evangelize the inhabitants of Machu Picchu.
HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU IN COLONIAL TIMES
This great Inca city was barely a century old since during that time a civil war was fought between Huascar and Atahualpa, both members of the royal family of the Inca Pachacuteq, who died about 50 years earlier. According to the history of Machu Picchu, thanks to this civil war, the Inca empire was finally destroyed and due to the lack of communication with Cusco, they opted to gradually abandon the citadel of Machu Picchu.
The history of Machu Picchu also tells us that the Spaniards knew about the existence of this Inca citadel and some documents mention that the few farmers who still lived there had to pay an annual tribute in the town of Ollantaytambo, where Hernando Pizarro and his commanders stayed.
MACHU PICCHU IN THE REPUBLICAN ERA
This being the last section of Machu Picchu’s history before its discovery, it is known that in 1821 the great independence of Peru from the Spanish colony took place and Machu Picchu was still fulfilling an agricultural function, thanks to the few peasants who inhabited its lands.
In 1865, the Italian researcher Antonio Raimondi tried to reach this citadel, however, he could only reach the slopes of this mountain, and not being able to visit the citadel. In 1870, the first maps were made where the existence of Machu Picchu was mentioned, confirmed by the famous explorer Charles Wiener, who also could not get to know this Inca citadel.
MACHU PICCHU TODAY
Machu Picchu is currently the most important and outstanding tourist attraction in Perú, being such its tourist impact that it is estimated that the Machu Picchu Archaeological Complex receives an average of 1.5 million tourists per year.
The destination par excellence for the most adventurous travelers.
THE DISCOVERY AND REDISCOVERY OF MACHU PICCHU
It is believed that the American Hiram Bingham was the discoverer of Machu Picchu, but nothing beyond reality, because the true history of Machu Picchu, says that Agustin Lizárraga was the first person who managed to discover this hidden Inca citadel, in 1911, which was the date of arrival of Hiram Bingham, he found a stone that had written the initials A and L. Being that Agustin is the original discoverer and Hiram Bingham the rediscoverer.
However, the history of Machu Picchu owes much to Hiram Bingham, as the person in charge of making known to the world this incredible place, generating an interest for all people, who wanted to know Machu Picchu and thanks to this, today is one of the 7 wonders of the world, being an attraction for tourists and researchers.
The great “discoverer of Machu Picchu”.
MYSTERY AND STUDIES IN MACHU PICCHU
After its great rediscovery, the history of Machu Picchu was still an enigma for the explorers, since it was not known its purpose, why it was abandoned and other questions. For this reason, it went through a process of archaeological research and excavation, where remains of ceramics, tools, carvings, clothing and mummies were found, totaling a total of approximately 46,332 pieces in all. These were sent to Yale University in the United States between 1911 and 1916.
Thanks to the famous photographers Martin Chambi and Juan M. Figueroa, who published images of Machu Picchu in Peruvian magazines between 1924 and 1928, the desire to know this Inca city increased. From 1970, plans to properly investigate the Inca City of Machu Picchu began, at the same time that the number of visitors from all over the world increased.
RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF MACHU PICCHU
“THE RUINS OF MACHU PICCHU”
Commonly people use this phrase to refer to the vestiges of the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu, but the truth is that the term “ruins” refers strictly to ruined or destroyed sites, something that Machu Picchu is far from being because the buildings of this place are well preserved despite the earthquakes that have occurred for several years.
The conglomerate of Machu Picchu buildings, including terraces, temples and terraces, which according to the history of Machu Picchu was home to the last of the Incas.
The impressive buildings of Machu Picchu
ATTACKS AGAINST MACHU PICCHU
Machu Picchu is contemplated by visitors from many parts of the world. Unfortunately, during all its years, it has received irresponsible people who attempted against the integrity of the Inca citadel, being as an example the last attack that Machu Picchu suffered was in 2016, when a “tourist” was discovered making graffiti with a black spray, on the stones of the Pachamama sector, which is located on the Inca Trail to the Inti Punku. Fortunately, these graffiti were carefully erased by specialized personnel and are now ready for travelers to enjoy.
Other curious moments ended up affecting this great archaeological complex, because in 2000, a camera mounted on a crane, ended up falling on the Intihuatana, causing severe damage to the site, which led to lawsuits and requests for compensation against the company responsible.
And the most serious act was committed when a monolith located in the middle of the sacred plaza of Machu Picchu was removed from its place, solely for the reason of providing comfort to some “illustrious personages”, who could land in helicopters over the city, which ended up destroying it.
PRESERVATION OF MACHU PICCHU
At the beginning of Machu Picchu as a tourist attraction, it was visited by tourists without proper access control and that is why there was no conservation plan for this archaeological complex.
That is why the Peruvian government decided to create a plan for the preservation and renovation of this site, limiting the access of tourists per day to only 4044, ensuring that the impact on the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu is the least possible.
The importance of maintaining and respecting Machu Picchu is to visit some of its most uncertain spots.
WHAT CAN I DO AS A TOURIST TO HELP PRESERVATION?
As a traveler who is about to explore this great Inca citadel, you must keep in mind that you are a vital part of the preservation and conservation of Machu Picchu, helping to ensure that your visit remains available for future generations.
Therefore, you should mainly follow the recommendations of your guide, which means not climbing the walls, respecting the signs and keeping your garbage or waste inside your backpack.
THE CHARM OF MACHU PICCHU AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION
Since its discovery until today and thanks to the fact that during the second half of the twentieth century, the Peruvian state began the construction of roads and railways, allowing more comfortable and faster access for visitors eager to know Machu Picchu, being a great season for tourist interest in the Inca city, but on the other hand, there was no proper conservation and research plan.
Take the best pictures and be amazed by Machu Picchu Mountain.
TRAVELER’S EXPERIENCE AT MACHU PICCHU
Discovering the history of Machu Picchu is spectacular, but even more spectacular is visiting it. You will explore the most enigmatic streets of this Inca citadel and while doing so, you can be taken back in time and learn more about their routine activities. And as you tour the temples, you will discover the great dominion that the Incas had over astrology, since these beautiful buildings were not just created at random.
All this experience will be complemented by the great explanation of your professional guide from Waman Adventures, who will show you beyond the visual, allowing you to enjoy a complete and enriching experience.
Complement your experience by purchasing tickets for Huayna Picchu.
IMPACTS OF MACHU PICCHU IN PERU
Machu Picchu’s Cultural Influence
Thanks to the fact that the history of Machu Picchu has taken a very important value for Peru and all the culture it carries, the inhabitants and governmental entities have launched various projects to revalue the customs and traditions of our history. Giving the required value to the Inca civilization, making Peruvians feel prouder of our history and roots.
This is the reason why many cities and towns that are dedicated to tourism, managed to balance the modernization of their economic activities with part of the living traditions, resulting in an offer of premium services with a traditional and artisan touch.
Traditional customs and clothing are becoming much more relevant.
MACHU PICCHU’S INFLUENCE ON TOURISM
According to the updated information on Machu Picchu, it is known that the tourist activity generated by this world attraction is extremely relevant for Peru’s economy, occupying the third place in generating the national GDP, only surpassed by mining and agriculture.
It is also important to highlight that the tourist activity is so large that 90% of the population of Cusco benefits directly or indirectly from tourism. Many families depend on this activity to sustain their daily lives.
The influx of tourists wishing to visit Machu Picchu is incredible.
CONCLUSION ON THE HISTORY OF MACHU PICCHU
Definitely, the history of Machu Picchu is incredible in all aspects, since this citadel is submerged in enigmas that remain to be solved, having a vital importance for the Inca empire and being the most enigmatic city of this culture. Over the years it was abandoned, discovered and later converted into the most important archaeological complex in Peru and South America.
This citadel suffered several stages and despite all of them, it still maintains a visual and cultural attraction for national and international travelers, who want to know this great attraction located in the beautiful mountainous jungle of Cusco.
Now that you know more about the incredible history of Machu Picchu and its process to become the tourist attraction par excellence of all South America and the world, what are you waiting for to be the next to explore and tour Machu Picchu?, just contact our sales team and book on your ideal date, ensuring your entrance to Machu Picchu with a legal agency and experienced in providing an ideal service to make your experience the best.
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