Explanation:
1. Realizing Atahualpa was initially more valuable alive than dead, Pizarro kept the emperor in captivity while he made plans to take over his empire.In response, Atahualpa appealed to his captors' greed, offering them a room full of gold and silver in exchange for his liberation.
1.2
Pizarro's timing for conquest was perfect. By 1532, the Inca Empire was embroiled in a civil war that had decimated the population and divided the people's loyalties. ... Sending his brother Hernan as an envoy, Pizarro invited Atahualpa back to Cajamarca for a feast in honor of Atahualpa's ascendance to the throne.
The noise and smoke of fire-flashing European weapons, as much as their deadly destructiveness, carried the day for the Spanish conquistadores at Cajamarca, Peru. Sheer shock made a nonsense of the numbers as Francisco Pizarro’s 128 invaders defeated the Inca army.
1.3
His men met Pizarro's men at their most disorganized and they reported back by word of mouth that they were not fighting men. ... Atahualpa's general Chalcuchima was deceived into surrendering his large army to the Spaniards.
notes
What were Atahualpa's advantages?
1. In middle of own empire surrounded by millions of subjects
2. Surrounded by 80,000 soldiers
Why was Atahualpa's capture decisive for the European conquest of the Incan Empire?
They would have won anyways but the conquest made it quicker and easier.
Why?
The Incas saw Atahualpa as a sun god and listened to his orders even from prison.
How did Pizarro capture Atahualpa?
The Spaniards' steel swords and other weapons, steel armor, guns and horses. Complete imbalance of equipment.
