A Boy from Spain
Little Francisco Pizarro ran through the dusty streets of Trujillo, Spain. The sun was hot, and his feet were bare. He wasn't like other kids who went to school. Instead, he worked as a pig farmer.
"Francisco! Come back with those pigs!" his mother would shout. But Francisco had bigger dreams than watching pigs all day.
He would climb the highest hill near his home and look out at the far-away mountains. "One day," he would whisper to himself, "I will go on big adventures and become rich and famous!"
Life wasn't easy for young Francisco. He never learned to read or write. But he was strong and brave. He would watch the soldiers march through town in their shiny armor, dreaming of becoming someone important.
"Why do you always stare at those soldiers?" his friend Miguel asked one day.
"Because they get to go on adventures," Francisco replied. "They get to see new places and find treasure!"
As Francisco grew older, he heard exciting stories about a place called the New World. Sailors talked about lands full of gold and silver across the big ocean. These stories made Francisco's eyes shine with excitement. ⭐
The Big Decision
One morning, when Francisco was a young man, he made a very important choice. He would leave his home and become an explorer!
"Mother," he said, "I'm going to sail across the ocean. I will find great treasures and make our family proud!"
His mother worried. "But Francisco, it's dangerous! Many ships never come back."
Francisco smiled. "I must try. I want to be more than just a pig farmer."
He found his brothers, Gonzalo and Hernando. "Will you come with me on this adventure?" he asked them.
"Yes!" they shouted together. They were just as excited as Francisco about finding new lands and treasure.
Francisco and his brothers worked hard to get ready for their journey. They needed:
• Strong ships
• Brave sailors
• Sharp swords
• Food and water
• Maps of the ocean
At night, Francisco would look up at the stars. He imagined sailing under those same stars to find amazing places no one from Spain had ever seen.
"Tomorrow," he told his brothers, "we will start our great adventure. We will find a golden kingdom!"
His heart beat faster as he thought about the journey ahead. The little boy who once watched pigs was about to become an explorer. He didn't know that far away, across the ocean, there really was a kingdom full of gold – the land of the Incas.
As the sun set over Trujillo that evening, Francisco Pizarro packed his few belongings. He was ready to chase his dream across the big blue ocean. The pig farmer's son was about to begin the biggest adventure of his life.
Across the Big Blue Ocean
The wind whipped through Francisco’s hair as he stood on the ship’s deck. The waves crashed against the wooden sides, making a loud splash. This was his first time on such a big boat!
“Look how far you can see!” Gonzalo, his brother, shouted over the wind. The ocean stretched as far as their eyes could reach.
Life on the ship wasn’t easy. The waves made the boat rock back and forth. Many sailors got sick. But Francisco stayed strong. He helped pull ropes and clean the deck. At night, he watched the stars guide their way. ⭐
Strange New Lands
“Land ho!” a sailor shouted one morning. Everyone ran to look. There, in the distance, was a green coastline they had never seen before.
“What kind of place is this?” Hernando wondered aloud.
Francisco smiled. “This is the New World, brother. This is where our adventure really begins!”
The ship anchored near a beautiful beach. The sand was white, and tall trees grew right up to the water. Birds with colorful feathers flew overhead.
Meeting New People
As they walked on the beach, they saw something moving in the trees. People were watching them! These people had dark skin and wore clothes made from colorful cloth.
“Hello!” Francisco called out, waving his hands to show he was friendly.
Slowly, some of the local people came out to meet them. They brought gifts of fresh fruit and showed the Spanish explorers their village.
Francisco tried to talk with them using hand signals: “Where did you get those golden necklaces?” he asked, pointing to their jewelry.
The local people pointed south and made signs about mountains and a great kingdom. Francisco’s eyes lit up with excitement.
The Big Storm
But exploring wasn’t always fun. One night, a terrible storm hit their ships. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed across the sky. ⚡
“Hold on tight!” Francisco yelled as giant waves crashed over the deck.
The storm lasted three days. Many of their supplies got wet. Some food went bad. But Francisco wouldn’t give up.
“We must keep going,” he told his tired men. “The golden kingdom is waiting for us!”
Each day, they sailed further south along the coast. They saw:
• Beautiful beaches
• Tall mountains
• Strange animals
• New kinds of trees
• More villages
At night, Francisco would write in his mind what he had seen that day. He couldn’t really write it down because he never learned how. But he remembered everything carefully.
“Soon,” he told his brothers as they watched the sunset, “we will find the kingdom of gold. I can feel it in my bones!”
The waves rocked their ship gently as they dreamed about what they might find next. Little did they know, they were getting closer to the mighty Incan Empire with each passing day.
Secrets of the Mountain Kingdom
Francisco and his men climbed higher into the mountains. The air felt thin and cold. ❄️ Their boots crunched on the rocky path as they followed their native guide.
Learning About the Incas
“Look there!” the guide pointed to a stone road that seemed to go on forever. It was smooth and perfect, like giant hands had placed each rock just right.
“Who built this?” Francisco asked in wonder.
“The great Inca people,” the guide explained. “They build roads all through the mountains.”
Francisco’s eyes grew wide. He had never seen such amazing building work.
The Secret Messages
In every village they passed, Francisco watched and learned. The Inca people used colorful strings called quipus to send messages. They had runners who carried news faster than any horse could gallop!
Francisco made friends with some local people. They told him about their emperor, called the Sapa Inca. He lived in a golden palace and ruled over many lands.
Making Plans
“Brother,” Hernando whispered one night by the campfire. “These people have more gold than we ever dreamed of!”
Francisco nodded. “Yes, but we must be smart. Let’s learn more about them first.”
They learned important things about the Inca:
• They had a huge army
• Their emperor was like a god to them
• They spoke a language called Quechua
• They worshipped the sun
• They were very organized and clever
The Mountain Warning
One evening, an old woman came to Francisco. Her face was serious.
“Be careful,” she said through a translator. “The mountains have eyes. The Sapa Inca knows you are here.”
The Big Choice
Francisco gathered his brothers and best men. “We now know much about the Inca,” he said. “They are strong, but they are fighting among themselves.”
“What should we do?” Gonzalo asked.
Francisco looked at the distant mountains, where the golden city of Cusco waited. “We prepare,” he said with a smile. “Soon, we will meet this emperor ourselves!” ⚔️
That night, as the stars came out over the mountains, Francisco planned his next move. The Inca Empire was huge and powerful. But he thought he knew how to win it. All he needed was the right moment to strike.
The Emperor’s Trap
The sun rose over Cajamarca valley, painting the sky gold. Francisco Pizarro stood at the edge of the town square. His heart beat fast with excitement. Today he would meet the great Inca Emperor Atahualpa.
Getting Ready
“Hide the soldiers behind the walls,” Francisco told his brothers. “When I give the signal, come out fast!”
His men worked quickly. They put horses in the buildings around the square. They hid guns where no one could see them.
“Remember,” Francisco said, “wait for my red scarf to wave.”
The Emperor Comes
Music filled the air! Drums beat as Atahualpa came into town. He sat on a golden chair carried by strong men. He wore clothes made of the finest cloth and gold jewelry that sparkled in the sun.
“Welcome, great emperor!” Francisco called out. A helper said the words in Quechua.
The Meeting
Atahualpa looked down at Francisco. His face was serious. A priest came forward with a book.
“This is the Bible,” the priest said. “It tells about our God.”
Atahualpa took the book. He held it to his ear, then threw it down!
“This book does not speak to me,” he said.
The Signal
Francisco’s face grew hot. He pulled out his red scarf and waved it high! ⚔️
Suddenly:
• Horses galloped into the square
• Guns made loud booms
• Spanish soldiers ran out with swords
• The Inca warriors were surprised
• Many people ran away scared
The Capture
“Grab the emperor!” Francisco shouted.
That night, Atahualpa sat in a room guarded by Spanish soldiers. He looked at Francisco and said something surprising.
“If you let me go,” he said, “I will fill this room with gold and silver!”
Francisco’s eyes got big. “How high?” he asked.
Atahualpa raised his hand high above his head. “This high with gold, and twice that with silver!”
The Promise
Francisco smiled. “Bring the treasure,” he told Atahualpa, “and we shall see.”
Messages went out across the empire. Soon, gold and silver began arriving in Cajamarca. It came on the backs of llamas and in the arms of runners. Every day brought more shine to the Spanish camp. ✨
But Francisco had a bigger plan. He knew that holding the emperor was just the start. The whole Inca Empire was about to change forever.
The Fall of Cuzco
The golden city of Cuzco sparkled in the morning light. Francisco Pizarro and his men marched toward the Inca capital. The streets were wide and clean, with perfect stone walls.
Taking Control
“Look at all the gold!” shouted one of Pizarro’s men. The Temple of the Sun was covered in golden decorations. ✨
Francisco walked up the temple steps. “Take it all,” he ordered. “Spain needs this treasure.”
The Spanish soldiers began to collect everything that sparkled:
• Golden sun masks
• Silver statues
• Jeweled plates
• Beautiful cloth with gold thread
• Precious cups and bowls
Changes in the City
Francisco made big changes in Cuzco. Where Inca temples once stood, he built churches.
“You must learn about Jesus now,” the Spanish priests told the Inca people.
Brave Warriors Fight Back
But not everyone accepted these changes. Manco Inca, a brave warrior, gathered an army in the mountains.
“We must protect our ways!” he told his followers. “The Spanish cannot take everything!”
Francisco’s brother Juan rode out to fight them. “They won’t give up easily,” he told Francisco.
A City Changed Forever
The beautiful Inca buildings started to change. Spanish-style houses went up. New roads were built. ️
“Look how different everything is,” said Francisco’s friend Diego. “It’s becoming like a Spanish city.”
Hard Times
Many Inca people got very sick. They had never seen the diseases that the Spanish brought.
“Why is this happening?” they asked their healers.
The healers tried their best medicines, but they couldn’t help everyone.
Francisco’s New Home
Francisco built a big house in Cuzco. He hung Spanish flags from the windows.
“This is our new capital,” he told his men. “From here, we will rule all of Peru.”
But at night, when Francisco looked out his window, he could still hear Inca songs floating up from the streets. The old ways weren’t completely gone.
High in the mountains, Manco Inca and his warriors watched the city. They planned and waited. The story of the Inca people wasn’t over yet.
Francisco might have won the city, but he would soon learn that changing a people’s heart was much harder than taking their gold.
The Price of Gold
Francisco Pizarro sat in his grand house in Lima, the new city he built. He was now very rich, but he wasn’t happy.
Trouble at Home
“Brother, there’s fighting in the streets,” Juan Pizarro warned. “The people are angry.”
Francisco looked out his window. Some Spanish soldiers wanted more gold. Others fought over who should be in charge.
“We came for riches,” Francisco said sadly, “but gold made us greedy.”
The Last Battle
One hot summer day in 1541, men with swords burst into Francisco’s house. They were angry Spanish soldiers who thought he had too much power. ⚔️
“Defend yourself, old conqueror!” they shouted.
Francisco fought bravely, but there were too many enemies. He drew a cross on the ground with his own blood and kissed it before he died.
A Changed World
After Francisco died, Peru became different forever. Spanish and Inca people started living together. They shared their ways of life:
• Foods and farming methods
• Languages and stories
• Music and dances
• Clothes and art
• Building styles
Stories Live Forever
Today, millions of people visit Peru to see the amazing things the Inca built. The stone walls of Cuzco still stand strong. ️
“Tell us about the Inca,” children ask their grandparents.
And the old stories are still told, passed down through families like precious treasures.
Learning from History
Francisco Pizarro’s story teaches us important things. Being greedy for gold can make people do bad things. But it also shows how different people can learn to live together.
Modern Peru
Today, Peru is a beautiful mix of old and new. In Cuzco, you can see ancient Inca walls next to modern buildings. People speak Spanish but also Quechua, the Inca language.
“We are proud of all our history,” say Peruvians today. “Both the Inca and Spanish parts make us who we are.”
High in the Andes Mountains, the ancient Inca cities still watch over Peru. They remind us that every story has many sides, and that the most valuable treasures aren’t made of gold – they’re the stories, traditions, and wisdom that live in people’s hearts.