Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Over time, the fascinating history of Machu Picchu has been coming to light through research and scientific excavations, although a ‘’mantle of history still houses over much of its past like the dense fogs that shroud its ancient walls’’ (Balaguer). Today Machu Picchu is one of the new imposing 7 Wonders of the World that fascinates our eyes with its magnificent beauty and structure. At around 8,000 feet above sea level, the perfectly preserved formidable ruins of this ‘’Lost City’’ have been intact for more than 500 years. Machu Picchu, commissioned by Inca emperor Pachacuti, was originally built as a ceremonial and administrative center for the Inca Empire. The complex, yet beautiful structure of the city, helps illustrate and advocate the cultural and architectural superiority that the Inca civilization had compared to other native tribes during their time before the invasions of the Spanish Conquistadors. Machu Picchu, commissioned by Inca emperor Pachacuti, was originally built as a ceremonial and administrative center for the Inca Empire. The emperor lived in the capital of Cuzco and was responsible for distributing power over the high ranked officials of the government that controlled taxes, agriculture, and farmland. Like many other rulers, Pachacuti claimed to be descended from some sort of powerful god. In this case, he considered himself the offspring of the sun god, so it is not surprising that many buildings were constructed to honor him and the other important figures of the Inca culture. During his life span, Pachacuti and his people were known for their advances in architecture, astronomical studies, and their complex system of highways that connected all parts of the Inca Empire. Their empire was highly organized, yet they had no written language. Instead they had a way to record information through the use of knotted strings. Pachacuti and his people were also an agrarian civilization, but inhabited some of

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