Which empire ruled the highlighted section on the map?

The Inca empire ruled the western portion of the southamerican continent for a short-lived period, about a century, compared to other empires throughout history. According to World History Encyclopedia, it lasted from 1438 to 1533, culminating with the arrival of Spanish conquistadores. Its dominion covered a large region that is now Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and parts of Argentina and Colombia. Despite their brief rule, the Incas remain a fascinating culture due to their advanced road system, agricultural techniques, and impressive architecture; achievements accomplished without a writing system.

The Inca empire was a polytheistic culture, with the sun-god Inti being a central figure in their religion. Agriculturally, they were the first to use food freezing techniques to preserve products like potatoes high in the mountains where the cold temperatures allowed them to store food for longer periods. Their engineering feats include roads that expanded throughout the empire completed with bridges and stone work such as the walls of Sacsayhuamán, near Cusco, which baffle modern archeologists to this day. The incas were also advanced in astronomy. At Machu Picchu, the structures were aligned to mark the sun’s movements during solstices and equinoxes, demonstrating the advanced level of their astronomical observations.

Despite these achievements, The Incas did not use things we deem essential for a working society today, such as a writing system or currency.