This Lesson's
logo is Pizarro's cavalry
After capturing Atahualpa, Pizarro accepted the Inca's
offer of obtaining his freedom in exchange for a room full of gold and one
of silver. For two months the Inca's people brought in their precious objects
to fill the rooms and then be melted down to make it easier to ship back
to Spain. All of Pizarro's men became instantly rich, since even after the
King's fifth the lowest ranking soldier's share was some ninety pounds of
gold and a hundred and eighty of silver.
The final outcome was not happy. Pizarro was reluctant to release Atahualpa,
afraid that he would lead an uprising against the Spanish (several rebellions
were in fact mounted). So the Spanish found an excuse to accuse Atahualpa
of conspiracy and condemned him to death by fire, a sentence that was changed
to garroting (strangulation) when he embraced the Christian faith of his
conquerors.