THE INCA AT WAR.

The Inca Empire's military played a crucial role in its rapid expansion and dominance over neighboring tribes. The Inca leaders used diplomacy to encourage tribes to join their empire peacefully, but they also had a powerful military to enforce their demands. The Inca army started as a standing force to protect farmers in the Cusco Valley and later transitioned to a temporary army made up of soldiers from subservient tribes. The army consisted of diverse warriors with different weapons and armor, and they relied on an extensive road network and intelligence network for efficient recruitment and deployment. However, the Inca army lacked advanced technology like iron and steel, which ultimately contributed to their downfall when the Spanish arrived. Despite their military prowess, the Inca were unable to overcome the superior weaponry and diseases brought by the Spanish conquistadors. [Extracted from the article]