Final answer:
The Inca Empire came to an end in the early 16th century, primarily due to diseases brought by Europeans and the Spanish conquest led by Francisco Pizarro. The Spanish captured the Inca leader in 1533, leading to the collapse of the empire in 1535 and the fall of the final stronghold in 1572.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Inca Empire, once a powerful and extensive civilization in pre-Columbian America, saw its demise in the early 16th century. The Empire, known for its advanced engineering and extensive road systems, began to deteriorate due to multiple internal and external pressures. The arrival of European diseases such as smallpox in the 1530s, which claimed the life of Emperor Wayna Qhapaq in 1528, tremendously weakened the Inca populace.
Amidst this turmoil, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in Ecuador with a small army in 1532, finding a society in chaos due to a civil war between the Inca emperor's sons. Pizarro, with less than 200 men, met up with the Inca armies and, through a series of military maneuvers, managed to defeat them. The capture of the Inca leader by the Spanish in 1533 marked the beginning of the end for the Inca Empire. Two years later, in 1535, the Empire collapsed following the loss of their leader.
The last Inca stronghold in Vilcabamba fell to the Spanish in 1572, extinguishing any remaining resistance and solidifying the Spanish presence in the region. This conquest not only marked the end of the Inca Empire but also a significant transformation in the history of the Americas.