Which empire built the road network centered on the ancient city of Cusco?

The Inca Empire built the road network centered on the ancient city of Cusco. Known as the Qhapaq Ñan, or Royal Road, the system connected the empire’s territories across the Andes and neighboring regions.

The network covered more than 30,000 kilometers and crossed deserts, high mountains, valleys, and tropical landscapes. Inca engineers built stairs, causeways, tunnels, suspension bridges, and retaining walls to cope with difficult terrain. Roads were designed mainly for government administration, military movement, communication, and the transport of goods rather than wheeled vehicles.

Runners called chasquis carried messages between relay stations, allowing information to travel rapidly. Storehouses and administrative settlements supported travelers and state officials. The Qhapaq Ñan incorporated routes created by earlier Andean societies, but the Inca expanded and organized them into an imperial system. Several South American countries jointly received UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the network in 2014.