Which ancient civilization built Machu Picchu in the Andes during the 15th century?

The Inca civilization built Machu Picchu in the Andes during the 15th century.

Machu Picchu is a mountain citadel in present-day Peru, about 2,430 metres above sea level. Archaeological evidence indicates that it was constructed during the reign of Pachacuti, the Inca ruler who greatly expanded the empire in the 15th century. The site includes terraces, plazas, residences, temples, and carefully fitted stone walls.

Researchers debate the settlement’s exact purpose. It may have served as a royal estate, a ceremonial centre, or a combination of political, religious, and agricultural functions. Its terraces helped stabilize steep slopes and support cultivation, while sophisticated drainage reduced damage from heavy mountain rainfall.

Machu Picchu was not the capital of the Inca Empire; that was Cusco. The site was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest, although the Spanish did not record discovering it. Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911, but local residents and regional scholars already knew of the ruins. UNESCO listed Machu Picchu as a World Heritage Site in 1983.