From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe Incas, the Incathe Inca the Incasthe Incas, the Inca[P] an ancient people who lived in Peru, South America, and who ruled a large area of the Andes mountains, from Ecuador to Chile, until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century and destroyed their civilization. They are known especially for building impressive cities, such as Machu Picchu, building roads, and having advanced methods of farming. Their capital was Cuzco, and their language was Quechchua. → Inca