November 15 - Conquered Empire: How Spain Seized the Wealth of the Incas
Sharing Christ's Truth with Grace and Cultural Sensitivity
This is the day Francisco Pizarro's Spanish expedition captured the Inca capital of Cusco after defeating General Quisquis's army in 1533 AD.
In today's lesson, we explore the complex intersection of faith and cultural engagement through the lens of the Spanish conquest of Cusco. What happens when the message of Christ's love becomes entangled with conquest? How can modern believers share their faith while honoring both biblical truth and human dignity?
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." - 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
This Date in History
From his vantage point on the heights above Cusco, General Quisquis watched in quiet anguish as Spanish conquistadors breached the sacred Inca capital's defenses. The city of Cusco—a marvel of engineering, with stone walls so precisely carved that not even a blade of grass could fit between them—was falling to an audacious force of merely 168 men led by Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro, an illiterate former swineherd from Extremadura, Spain, had risen from obscurity to become one of the most formidable conquistadors in the Americas. Against the grandeur of the Inca Empire, the Spanish force seemed a mere flicker, yet it would become a wildfire of conquest.
Pizarro's path to this defining moment began three decades earlier, in 1502, when he first set sail to the Americas. Over years of service in brutal expeditions, he developed a hardened ambition that would eventually fuel his own quest for fortune and glory. Tales of an empire of gold nestled in the Andes reached Pizarro, tantalizing him with images of a civilization rich beyond imagining. The Inca Empire, stretching 2,500 miles along the South American coast, was a land of terraced farms, complex governance, and a religious tradition woven into every element of life. It boasted advanced irrigation, aqueducts, and storied temples, standing as a testament to a society grounded in precision, order, and deeply held beliefs.
Pizarro's fateful encounter with an Inca trading vessel in 1527, filled with gold, silver, and vibrant textiles, ignited his dreams of conquest. He returned to Spain, securing royal approval to claim Peru in the name of the crown, as long as he bore the risks. By 1532, Pizarro had assembled a modest but determined force—cavalry, guns, and steel-clad soldiers, technological advantages that would tip the balance in the Spaniards' favor.
The Inca Empire was already weakened by a civil war between two royal brothers, Atahualpa and Huascar, who vied for the throne after their father's death. Pizarro cunningly exploited this division, arranging a meeting with Atahualpa at Cajamarca under the guise of diplomacy. Here, he enacted a daring plan. Although the Inca army vastly outnumbered the Spanish, Pizarro ambushed and captured Atahualpa, marking the beginning of the end for the empire.
In a desperate bid for freedom, Atahualpa offered a ransom unlike any other in history: enough gold to fill a room approximately 22 feet long by 17 feet wide and more than 8 feet high, as well as two additional rooms filled with silver. This enormous ransom, known as the "Room of the Ransom," would have filled any European king's coffers to overflowing. Over the next months, Inca subjects delivered gold and silver treasures from all corners of the empire, including priceless artifacts and ceremonial vessels. The Spanish feverishly melted down these objects, erasing centuries of Inca craftsmanship to satisfy their hunger for wealth.
Despite receiving this immense ransom, Pizarro betrayed his promise to release Atahualpa. Following a mock trial, Atahualpa was accused of charges ranging from rebellion to idolatry and, ultimately, sentenced to death. He accepted baptism to avoid execution by burning, a fate abhorrent to Inca beliefs, and was instead garroted on July 26, 1533. Atahualpa's death sent shockwaves through the empire, shattering its political and spiritual unity and extinguishing a lineage revered as descendants of the sun god, Inti.
Pizarro then installed Manco Inca Yupanqui as a puppet ruler, hoping to control the empire through him, but resistance smoldered across the Andes. Loyal generals like Quisquis and Rumiñawi led fierce opposition, rallying troops against the Spanish as they advanced toward Cusco, the empire's heart. In Cusco, monumental fortresses and golden temples stood as symbols of Inca spirituality and governance, but these too would soon be threatened.
On November 15, the battle for Cusco revealed the devastating power of Spanish warfare. Pizarro's soldiers, though vastly outnumbered, unleashed cavalry charges that splintered Inca ranks and fired guns that echoed like thunder through the Andean valleys. For the Inca, who had never seen horses or heard gunfire, the Spanish weapons sowed terror and confusion. Their bronze-tipped spears and stone slings, crafted for close combat, were no match for Spanish steel and tactics honed in European conflicts. Though Inca warriors fought valiantly to defend their sacred capital, their efforts proved no match against the foreign invaders.
Following Cusco's capture, the Spanish began systematically dismantling Inca cultural and religious institutions. They built Catholic churches atop sacred sites, melted down priceless religious artifacts for their gold and silver, and imposed Spanish language and customs on the population. The fall of Cusco marked not just the conquest of a city, but the beginning of the end for one of the world's most sophisticated indigenous civilizations.
Historical Context
The Spanish conquest of Cusco unfolded against a complex backdrop of political upheaval and cultural transformation in both the Americas and Europe. The early 16th century marked the peak of Spanish exploration and conquest in the New World, driven by a potent mixture of religious fervor, economic ambition, and imperial expansion.
Spain itself was experiencing a golden age following the unification of Castile and Aragon and the final expulsion of the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. This period of Spanish ascendancy created a generation of ambitious men like Pizarro who saw the Americas as an opportunity for advancement impossible in the rigid social hierarchy of their homeland. The Spanish crown, eager to fund its European military campaigns and expand its global influence, actively encouraged these conquests while requiring only minimal investment of its own resources.
The Inca Empire that Pizarro encountered was the largest pre-Columbian state in the Americas, sophisticated in its administration but vulnerable due to its recent rapid expansion. The empire, known to its people as Tawantinsuyu ("The Four Regions"), had grown from a small kingdom centered in Cusco to dominate much of western South America in less than a century. This swift expansion left underlying tensions between newly conquered peoples and their Inca rulers, creating fault lines that the Spanish would expertly exploit.
A devastating smallpox epidemic had swept through the empire in the 1520s, killing the emperor Huayna Capac and perhaps 65-90% of the population in some regions. This disease, unwittingly introduced by European contact, arrived before the conquistadors themselves and severely weakened the empire's ability to resist invasion. The subsequent civil war between Atahualpa and Huascar further fractured the empire's unity, depleting its resources and military strength just before Pizarro's arrival.
The Inca worldview and religious beliefs also influenced their response to the Spanish invasion. Their emperor was considered a living god, descended from the sun deity Inti. The capture of Atahualpa thus represented not just a political crisis but a theological catastrophe that shook the foundations of Inca society. When combined with the apocalyptic impact of European diseases and superior Spanish military technology, these factors created circumstances that would prove fatal to Inca independence.
Did You Know?
Pizarro's troops were astounded by Cusco's sophisticated water management system, which included fountains, canals, and aqueducts that supplied fresh water throughout the city.
Today’s Reflection
The stone walls of Cusco still stand today, their precise craftsmanship a testament to the sophisticated civilization that built them. Each carefully fitted stone also serves as a sobering reminder of how the message of Christ's love can become distorted when delivered through force rather than grace. The Spanish conquistadors brought the cross to Peru, but they carried it with swords rather than servants' hearts.
The apostle Peter's words echo across centuries with particular poignancy: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV). This scripture paints a picture of evangelism markedly different from what occurred in Cusco—one built on gentle persuasion rather than coercion, on respect rather than subjugation.
When the Spanish arrived in Peru, they encountered a complex society with deeply held beliefs, sophisticated governance, and established cultural practices. Rather than approaching with the gentleness and respect Peter advocates, they imposed their faith through destruction of Inca temples and forced conversions. The tragic irony lies in how their methods contradicted the very message they claimed to spread—the good news of a Savior who chose to lay down His life rather than take up arms.
This historical lesson speaks directly to our modern challenge of sharing faith across cultural boundaries. As Paul reminds us, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters" Romans 14:1 (NIV). This guidance suggests an approach of patient understanding rather than immediate judgment, of building bridges rather than erecting barriers.
The capture of Cusco reminds us that true spiritual conquest isn't about dominating others but about demonstrating Christ's love in ways that invite genuine curiosity and open dialogue. When we revere Christ as Lord in our hearts, as Peter instructs, our primary allegiance shifts from cultural superiority to spiritual humility. This inner transformation shapes how we interact with those whose beliefs differ from ours, leading us to approach them with genuine respect and sincere interest in their perspectives.
Consider how different the encounter between Spanish and Inca might have been had the conquistadors arrived not with swords and demands but with the gentleness and respect Peter describes. While we cannot change history, we can learn from it, ensuring our own witness reflects Christ's character rather than human ambition. Each interaction with someone of different beliefs becomes an opportunity to demonstrate that the hope within us produces not aggression but genuine love, not cultural imperialism but cross-cultural bridge-building.
The walls of Cusco stand as both a monument to what was lost and a reminder of what could have been. They challenge us to examine our own methods of sharing faith, pushing us to ensure that our approach aligns with the gentle and respectful spirit Peter advocates. In doing so, we honor both the message of Christ and the dignity of those with whom we share it.
Practical Application
Take time this week to practice sharing your faith story in two minutes or less, focusing on how to express your Christian convictions with both confidence and gentleness. Concentrate on describing your personal journey with Christ in a way that demonstrates respect for your listener while remaining firmly grounded in biblical truth. This exercise will help you be "prepared to give an answer" while maintaining the balance of truth and grace that Peter describes.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us share Your truth with the gentleness You modeled and the respect You showed to all. Guard our hearts against pride and cultural superiority. Give us wisdom to build bridges instead of barriers, and help us demonstrate Your love in ways that draw others to the hope we have in You. May our witness always honor both Your message and the dignity of those who hear it. Amen.
Supplementary Study
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
This passage reminds us that our witness should be visible through our actions and character, drawing others to Christ through the authentic demonstration of our faith.
"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.'"
Paul's approach in Athens provides an excellent example of engaging with different cultures while maintaining clear Christian truth. He acknowledged their spiritual interest while pointing them to Christ.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
This verse guides us in maintaining conversations that are both gracious and truth-filled when sharing our faith.
Final Thoughts
The fall of Cusco serves as a powerful reminder that the message of Christ cannot be truly shared through conquest or coercion. When we embrace Peter's teaching to share our faith with gentleness and respect, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus Himself, who never forced His message but rather drew people to truth through love. Our effectiveness in sharing the Gospel doesn't depend on dominating conversations or winning arguments, but on demonstrating the transformative power of Christ in our own lives while respecting the dignity of others.
Community Engagement
Share your thoughts or use these questions to get the conversation started.
How do you think the Inca's sophisticated civilization and complex belief system might have influenced their response to the Spanish arrival?
When have you experienced or witnessed the difference between sharing faith with gentleness versus force? What was the outcome in each case?
How can we balance Peter's call for gentleness and respect with the need to remain firm in our Christian convictions?
What practical steps can believers take to ensure they're sharing the Gospel in a way that reflects Christ's character rather than cultural superiority?
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In tomorrow's lesson, we'll explore how one state's courageous stand against overreach reveals timeless truths about maintaining conviction in the face of pressure. Through this historical moment, we'll discover how God's people can remain distinct while engaging thoughtfully with the world around them.
Bonus - Did You Know?
Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, a sacred animal to the Inca, with the mighty fortress of Sacsayhuamán forming the head. The city's layout combined artistic vision with spiritual symbolism.
The Inca lacked a formal writing system but maintained detailed records using quipus—complex systems of knotted cords that could record numerical data and possibly narrative information.
Many of Pizarro's men married Inca noblewomen after the conquest, creating a new social class called mestizos. These marriages were often strategic alliances that helped legitimize Spanish rule.
The Inca practice of mummifying their rulers and maintaining their palaces in perpetuity meant that at the time of the conquest, the mummies of previous emperors still "owned" vast estates and were consulted for political decisions.
Francisco Pizarro was ultimately assassinated in 1541 by supporters of Diego de Almagro's son, as part of a power struggle between competing Spanish factions in Peru.
The massive stones used in Cusco's buildings were quarried from sites miles away, with some weighing up to 125 tons. The engineering knowledge used to transport and fit these stones remains a subject of study today.
Additional Resources
The Last Days of the Incas - Kim MacQuarrie
Conquest of the Incas - John Hemming
Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire - Hugh Thomas
Daily Life in the Inca Empire - Michael A. Malpass
And the libs think Columbus was bad...
Tweaked history has "forgotten" all this in order to d e m o n i z e those of Wt Anglo-Saxon ancestry and point blame at them for taking over native populations in N America. The Spanish explorers covered South to North America first. One good thing: they brought horses.