Infectious diseases and spiritual demoralization caused Inca Empire collapse. A dozen infectious diseases accompanied Spanish to the New World and spread across the Andes Inca interpreted sickness as spiritual attack by malevolent spirits or divine displeasure rather than physical ailment Spanish priests offered Christianity as cure for disease, converting populations through spiritual demoralization
The Inca saw diseases as spiritual attacks, not physical illness. Spanish priests offered Christianity as a cure. The belief their gods had abandoned them broke resistance.
Key Facts
- A dozen infectious diseases accompanied Spanish to the New World and spread across the Andes
- Inca interpreted sickness as spiritual attack by malevolent spirits or divine displeasure rather than physical ailment
- Spanish priests offered Christianity as cure for disease, converting populations through spiritual demoralization
- Inca people believed their gods had abandoned them, leading to loss of will to resist
- Three main factors caused Inca collapse: Pizarro's swift capture of Atahualpa, cultural disconnect between Spanish and Inca, and infectious diseases
- Inca Empire had 10 million people and provided infrastructure, roads, and food storage to prevent hunger
- Without Spanish invasion, Inca Empire would likely have continued for centuries
Source: What Caused the Inca Empire to Collapse by Archaeologist Ed Barnhart