The "Incas"

The people who we refer to as the Incas were known in their language (Quechua) as the Tawantinsuyo. Most of Peruvians speak Spanish, but the mountain people still speak Quechua as their main language, but they learn Spanish as a second language. Our guide had Quechua as his native language.

It is strange that we call this empire the Inca Empire. Inca is a translation of their word for king or ruler, not for the Tawantinsuyo people. So that would be like us calling the British Empire the "King Empire." However, the name Inca has stuck.

Further the Incas were only the 5th part of 5 different evolving cultures. The Incas lasted only about 100 years from 1420 or so to 1520 or so. It was the 4 previous versions that enabled them to be so advanced.