Final answer:
The statement is true; by 1471, the Inca had expanded their empire to cover significant parts of the west coast of South America, encompassing multiple modern countries and creating a highly sophisticated societal structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Inca controlled territory on the west coast of South America by 1471 is true. By this time, the Inca Empire, under rulers such as his successors, expanded its territory substantially. The Inca Empire began its significant expansion around 1430 during the reign. They continued to grow, extending the Empire's reach to include modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
By the early sixteenth century, the Inca Empire was one of the largest in the world, organized into four administrative regions: Chinchansuyu, Antisuyu and Collasuyu. This vast territory was managed through advanced engineering projects, including an impressive network of 14,000 miles of roads, and a swift runner system capable of covering up to 250 miles a day. Such feats demonstrate the Inca's exceptional administrative and engineering skills shaping one of history's most complex societies.