The Inca people were one of the most fascinating historical cultures. At the time of the Spanish conquest of South America in the 16th century their empire was one of the largest and wealthiest in the world, extending from the current countries of Chile and Argentina in the south to Colombia in the north. Due to a reverence for gold, the Incas held a very substantial quantity of the metal in the form of sculptures and gold leaf, which covered many things, including buildings even. Unfortunately, little of this remains as it was melted down by the invaders. Consequently, to understand the art of this incredibly rich and sophisticated culture, we have to look at other forms of art such as ceramics, architecture and textiles that have survived in greater numbers.

Most known Inca ceramics are large vessels with either geometric designs or colourful depictions of birds, cats and other animals. Surviving textiles also had geometric designs such as rectangles and squares. However, it is architecture that the Incas are best known for now, with Machu Picchu, Peru being the most famous example. This large complex of buildings, like others of their type, is constructed of massive, uniquely-shaped blocks that were carved with a high degree of accuracy and which required no mortar to hold them together.