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15 Once-Great Nations That Ran Themselves Into The Ground

Darren March 11, 2026 5 min

12. The Inca Empire

The Inca Empire, the largest in pre-Columbian America, was renowned for its advanced engineering and governance. However, internal civil war and the introduction of smallpox significantly weakened the empire. In 1533, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro capitalized on these vulnerabilities, capturing and executing Emperor Atahualpa, leading to the rapid downfall of the Inca civilization. (history.com)

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Darren

12. The Inca Empire

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