Francisco Pizarro was another Spanish conquistador. He had heard stories of an Indian empire richer than the Aztecs. In 1531, Pizarro and a group of 180 Spanish and African soldiers sailed from Panama to the west coast of South America. They wandered through the Andes Mountains for two years.During their travels they stole gold and riches from the Native peoples.
When Francisco Pizarro arrived, the Inca Empire was just ending a civil war. A civil war is a war between people of the same country. The Inca civil war had been fought between two brothers, Atahuallpa and Huascar. Each brother thought he had the right to rule. The war ended when Atahuallpa killed his brother and became emperor.
Atahuallpa was carried to Pizarro on a golden throne lined with parakeet feathers. Around his neck he wore a necklace of giant green emeralds. Gold ornaments decorated his hair. Pizzarro's priests asked Atahuallpa to give up the Inca religion and accept Christianity, and the King of Spain as ruler. When the Inca Emperor refused, Pizarro took him prisoner. To gain his freedom, Atahuallpa promised Pizarro enough silver and gold to fill a whole room. After the Incas provided Pizarro with the silver and gold, Pizarro had Atahuallpa killed.