Cusco

Timeline

1. c. 1451–1456Cusco urban area · Cusco RegionPachacuti replanned Cusco in the shape of a puma, summoning mit'a corvée from across the land to build palaces and temples. The Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) was expanded in precisely fitted andesite masonry, with golden outer walls and gold-leaf decoration signifying the highest rank of sun worship, making the city a landscape expression of the imperial worldview.
2. c. 1450–1460Machu Picchu · Cusco RegionMachu Picchu, as the royal estate of Cusco, began or continued construction in this period, reflecting Pachacuti's emphasis on mountain architecture and ritual space. Meanwhile, Inca armies conquered the Quito region to the north and advanced to central Chile in the south, rapidly expanding imperial territory and placing increasing strain on Cusco's storage system.