15. The Invasion of the Inca Empire (1532)
In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro led a small force into the Inca Empire, capturing Emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca. This event marked the rapid downfall of the vast Inca civilization. Similar to the Aztec collapse, the Incas faced devastating diseases introduced by Europeans, such as smallpox, which had already begun to decimate their population prior to Pizarro’s arrival. Additionally, internal strife, including a recent civil war between Atahualpa and his half-brother Huáscar, weakened the empire’s unity and resistance capabilities. These factors, combined with Pizarro’s strategic alliances with rival indigenous groups, facilitated the swift conquest of the Inca Empire (via history.com).
