On the western edge of the Amazon Basin, towering high into the Peruvian Andes, Macchu Picchu has enticed and baffled explorers and tourists ever since its location was discovered over a century ago.

1. MACHU PICCHU WAS THE CENTER OF A TREMENDOUS LAND EMPIRE

The Inca empire came into bloom in the 13th century, taking root in the Cusco region of Peru and at one point becoming the largest kingdom in all of the Americas. Their emperor, Sapa Inca, was the earthly representative of the sun god. They called their empire Tahuantinsuyu, “the Four Corners Together”. They had thousands of miles of roads, local governors, advanced agriculture, and a statist economic system called “mit’a”.