Which empire built the ancient city of Machu Picchu?

The Inca Empire built the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site in Peru’s Andes Mountains, high above the Urubamba River valley. Archaeologists generally associate its construction with the reign of Pachacuti, the Inca ruler who expanded the state during the 15th century. The site includes terraces, plazas, residences, temples, and carefully fitted stonework.

Its exact purpose remains debated. It may have served as a royal estate, a ceremonial centre, or both. The Spanish conquest did not destroy Machu Picchu, and the site was probably abandoned during the 16th century, although nearby people knew of it.

The outside world learned of the site through Hiram Bingham’s 1911 expedition, though Machu Picchu was not literally unknown to local communities. It is often called a “lost city,” but that phrase can obscure its continued connection to Andean history and nearby residents.