Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the 15th century?

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

Machu Picchu is a stone citadel in the Andes of southern Peru, probably constructed during the reign of the Inca ruler Pachacuti in the mid-15th century. The site stands at about 2,430 metres above sea level between the peaks of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.

Its buildings include temples, terraces, plazas, and residential areas. Inca builders fitted many stones together with remarkable precision, often without mortar. The terraces helped stabilize steep slopes and support agriculture, while carefully engineered channels managed rainwater.

Machu Picchu was probably abandoned during the Spanish conquest, although the Spanish did not record discovering it. It became widely known internationally after Hiram Bingham’s 1911 expedition, even though local people already knew the site. The name refers to the mountain behind the citadel, and the site is now a UNESCO World Heritage property.