When Spanish treasure hunters led by Francisco Pizarro first came to Peru, they had one thing in mind—finding gold.
In 1527, as his men explored the coast of Peru, Pizarro heard tales of a fabulously rich Indian empire in the Andes. Pizarro’s search for treasure marked the beginning of the end for the Inca empire. On a second trip to Peru in 1532, Pizarro brought about 180 soldiers with him. This time the Spanish invaders stayed. Just one year later, the Inca ruler Atahualpa was dead, and the Inca empire was history. Here’s how it all came about.
