The Twelve Incas
The Thomas Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa, Oklahoma

"Inca" was the name given to the ruler of this empire; after the conquest, it was applied to the people in general. Since descendants of the royalty continued to have special privileges during the colonial period, it was important to keep records of the genealogy. Under the leadership of a succession of Incas, the governing Indians of Peru had been consolidating their ruler over other tribes for some three centuries at the time of the conquest. They had improved upon and expanded an extensive system of roads, and they had evolved a very efficient administrative system to undertake public works and maintain a stock of food for all peoples in time of famine.