Final answer:
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Inca civilization did not have wheeled vehicles, animals for riding or plowing, iron or steel tools, nor a writing system; they used quipu for record-keeping. The Inca resisted Spanish rule, notably in a 1536 siege on Cuzco, but were overwhelmed due to the technological advantages of the Spanish. After conquest, the Spanish introduced diseases and changed the Inca economy to serve their own interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the Spanish conquest, the Inca civilization thrived without several things that were common in other parts of the world. Among these, the Inca did not have wheeled vehicles, animals trained to ride or pull plows, iron or steel tools—only bronze, and most notably, they lacked a formal writing system. Instead, they used a system of knotted strings known as quipu for record-keeping. Despite these limitations, they managed to create complex societies with stable, well-organized economies that impressed even the Spanish conquerors.
The Incan Response to Spanish Rule
The relationship between the Incas and the Spanish was antagonistic from the beginning. The Incas, led by Manco Inca, resisted the Spanish invasion with a massive but ultimately unsuccessful siege on Cuzco in 1536. Despite their valiant efforts, their lack of gunpowder weapons and horses placed them at a disadvantage against the Spanish conquerors.
Social and Economic Impact of Spanish Arrival
The Spanish invaders soon took control over the Inca Empire, establishing a new system on top of the existing Inca framework. The Europeans brought diseases which wreaked havoc on the native population, including the Inca nobility, leading to significant societal upheaval. In the wake of this devastation, the Spanish imposed their governance, continuing patterns of tribute and labor drafts but diverting resources primarily towards their own interests such as silver mining.