H INCA WARRIORS

The Inca army was the main element that its rulers used to make the local, insignificant state, a true empire throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. It is quite commonly assumed that the beginning of the building of the empire by the Inca state can be dated to the 30s of the 15th century. On the other hand, the heyday of this country ends with its conquest by the Spanish conquistadors, which ends in 1533 when the capital of the Inca state is captured by Francis Pizzaro. It can be assumed that the Inca army was composed mainly of peasants called up for military service during the war expedition. It was only in the 15th century that a professional "officer corps" responsible for conducting campaigns in the field was formed. This "corps" was composed only of ethnic Incas, while the rank and file were often descended from Indian tribes conquered in the course of the expansion. The Inca army was composed only of infantry, and its number probably amounted to several tens of thousands of soldiers. Perhaps it could reach the number of around 100,000. warriors - but this is only a guess. It is worth adding that the largest tactical unit of the Inca army was Apusquin Rantin in the strength of 10,000 warriors. The defensive armament of the Inca warrior was relatively weak - it consisted mainly of a helmet, often wooden, rarely made of copper, and a shield made of wood and leather. Armor - mostly linen - was worn almost exclusively by "officers" and commanders. The range of offensive weapons was much wider, including: estolica (a device facilitating the throwing of light javelins), cuncha chucuna (a type of battle ax), chaska chiqui (a type of light club whose head is made in the shape of a star). Besides, the Inca army made frequent use of bows.