Machu Picchu Practice Questions

Correct answer: Inca

Machu Picchu was built by the Inca in the 15th century, during the height of their empire in the Andes. The Maya, Aztec, and Olmec were separate Mesoamerican civilizations centered in present-day Mexico and Central America, far from the Peruvian highlands where Machu Picchu stands.

Correct answer: Peru

Machu Picchu sits in the Cusco region of Peru, high in the Andes above the Urubamba River valley. Mexico is often mistaken as the answer because it was home to the Aztec and Maya, but Machu Picchu is an Inca site built entirely within Peru.

Correct answer: Pachacuti

Most historians credit Pachacuti, the ninth Inca ruler, with commissioning Machu Picchu around 1450 as a royal estate during his expansion of the empire. Atahualpa and Manco Inca ruled generations later, during the Spanish conquest, long after the site was already built.

Correct answer: Royal Inca estate

Machu Picchu is widely believed to have been a royal estate built for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, serving as a retreat and ceremonial center for the ruling elite. Its precise function is still debated by historians, but the royal estate theory is the most widely accepted.

Correct answer: Andes

Machu Picchu sits on a ridge in the Andes, the mountain range running the length of western South America. The Rocky Mountains, Himalayas, and Alps are real ranges, but they lie in North America, Asia, and Europe respectively, nowhere near Peru.

Correct answer: Dry stone construction

The Inca cut and fitted stones so precisely that walls needed no mortar at all, a technique called dry stone construction that lets structures flex and resettle during earthquakes. Concrete and mortared brick were unknown to the Inca, and wood alone could not have built Machu Picchu's massive terraces and walls.

Correct answer: Rivers and mountains

Machu Picchu is surrounded by mountains and the Urubamba River. This setting adds to its dramatic appearance.

Correct answer: Agricultural use

Terraces were used for farming and preventing soil erosion. They allowed the Incas to grow crops in mountainous terrain.

Correct answer: Hiram Bingham

Hiram Bingham, an American explorer, brought Machu Picchu to international attention. He is often credited with its rediscovery.

Correct answer: Archaeological site

Machu Picchu is an archaeological site. It provides valuable insights into Inca civilization.

Correct answer: It was hidden and unknown to them

The Spanish never discovered Machu Picchu. Its remote location kept it hidden from conquest.

Correct answer: Granite

Granite stones were used in construction. They were carefully shaped and fitted together.

Correct answer: Religious or astronomical marker

The Intihuatana stone was likely used for astronomical observations. It also had religious significance.

Correct answer: Inca Empire

Machu Picchu was built by the Inca Empire. It reflects their advanced engineering and planning.

Correct answer: Quechua

Quechua was the primary language of the Inca Empire. It is still spoken in parts of South America today.

Correct answer: Complex drainage systems

The Inca built advanced drainage systems. These helped prevent flooding and landslides.

Correct answer: Lost City of the Incas

Machu Picchu is often called the 'Lost City of the Incas.' This reflects its hidden location and mystery.

Correct answer: Hundreds of residents

Machu Picchu likely housed a few hundred people. It was not a large urban center.

Correct answer: World Heritage Site

Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is recognized for its cultural and historical importance.

Correct answer: It shows Inca architecture and engineering skill

Machu Picchu highlights the advanced engineering and architecture of the Inca. It remains a symbol of their civilization.