Which civilization was built by a Native American people in western South America during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?

The Inca civilization was established by a Native American people in the Andean region of western South America during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Incas are notable for their advanced agricultural practices, impressive architectural feats, and a vast network of roads that facilitated communication and trade across the mountains.

At its height, the Inca Empire stretched from modern-day Colombia to Chile and included sophisticated urban centers like Cusco, which served as the empire’s capital. The Incas were skilled in engineering, contributing to remarkable constructions such as the famous Machu Picchu, and they developed a unique system of record-keeping known as quipu. Their organized society, centralized governance, and ability to adapt to the challenging geography significantly shaped the cultural and historical landscape of South America during that period.