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Aug 29 2013

How did 168 conquistadors take down the Inca empire?

38 min 1 movie discussed
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Just before Francisco Pizarro arrived in South American in 1532, the Inca empire covered 350,000 square miles and boasted a million inhabitants. Yet Pizarro managed to take down this vast, powerful and advanced bureaucracy with only 168 men. Find out how and learn about the Inca on this episode.

AI Summary

Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating and tragic story of the Inca Empire, exploring how one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas was conquered by fewer than 200 Spanish conquistadors. The episode examines the Incan culture, including their impressive agricultural innovations and controversial practices like child sacrifice, while unraveling the perfect storm of factors that led to their downfall. From deadly smallpox epidemics to political fractures and superior Spanish weaponry, discover how Francisco Pizarro managed to topple a million-person empire in just a few short years.


Movies Discussed

Joe Versus the Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcano
1990 1h 42m
★ 5.8
"It's not like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan jumping in the volcano — Josh used this movie reference when discussing how Incan child sacrifice wasn't like a lighthearted Hollywood movie." — Josh

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