A city in the clouds — built, left empty, and lost for hundreds of years.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = D (an empire) · 2 = B (a mountain) · 3 = C (stone) · 4 = F (to build)
5 = G (to leave) · 6 = H (lost) · 7 = A (an explorer) · 8 = E (a ruin)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
About 600 years ago, the Inca people had a big empire in South America. It was in the mountains, in a country we now call Peru. Their king was called the emperor. The biggest city was Cusco, high in the mountains.
Around the year 1450, the emperor wanted a special place in the mountains. So his workers built Machu Picchu, high above a river. It was not a normal city. It was a quiet, private home for the king and his family.
The building was amazing. The Inca had no metal tools and no machines. But they cut big stones so well that the stones fit together perfectly — you cannot put a knife between them! They also cut flat steps into the mountain to grow food. And they made water move through the city in small stone channels.
1. Who was Machu Picchu built for, and what was it?
2. Why was the building so amazing?
1. It was built for the Inca emperor (the king). It was a quiet, private home in the mountains for him and his family — not a normal city.
2. The Inca had no metal tools and no machines, but they cut big stones so well that they fit together perfectly. They also made steps for food and moved water through the city.
People only lived in Machu Picchu for about 80 years. Then, in the 1530s, soldiers from Spain came to South America. Their leader was Francisco Pizarro. The Spanish soldiers had horses, guns, and new illnesses. Very quickly, they destroyed the Inca empire. They killed the emperor, and Cusco fell.
At this time, the Inca left Machu Picchu. We do not know exactly why. But here is the important thing: the Spanish never found it! The city was very high in the mountains, far from the roads. So the Spanish never went there, and they never broke it.
So Machu Picchu stayed empty. The trees and plants grew over the houses. For almost 400 years, the world outside forgot the city. But the local farmers near the mountain still knew it was there.
1. What happened to the Inca empire in the 1530s?
2. Why is it important that the Spanish never found Machu Picchu?
1. Spanish soldiers, led by Francisco Pizarro, came with horses, guns, and new illnesses. They quickly destroyed the empire, killed the emperor, and Cusco fell.
2. Because they never found it, they never broke it. So the city stayed safe and whole for hundreds of years.
In 1911, an American explorer called Hiram Bingham came to Peru. He was looking for old Inca cities. A local farmer showed him the way up the steep mountain. Near the top, Bingham met farmers who lived there. Then a small local boy walked with him to the old stones.
People often say that Bingham "discovered" Machu Picchu. But that is not really true. The local people always knew about it! Bingham took photos and wrote about the city. Because of this, the whole world heard about Machu Picchu for the first time.
After that, Machu Picchu became very famous. Today, about 1.5 million people visit every year — so many that Peru must control the numbers. The quiet, private home of a king is now one of the most famous places in the world.
1. What did Hiram Bingham do in 1911 — and why is "discovered" the wrong word?
2. How famous is Machu Picchu today?
1. A local farmer and a local boy showed him the way. He took photos and wrote about it, so the world heard about it. "Discovered" is wrong because the local people always knew it was there.
2. Very famous. About 1.5 million people visit every year — so many that Peru must control the numbers.
Sometimes we do not know exactly why something happened. We only know what people think or say. With Machu Picchu, nobody is 100% sure why the Inca built it or why they left it. So we say what people believe — but we do not say who.
Use People think that… or It is said that… and put the verb in the right form.
1. People (think) that Machu Picchu (be) a home for the king.
2. It is (say) that the Inca (leave) the city very fast.
3. People (believe) that the local farmers always (know) about the city.
1. think / was
2. said / left
3. believe / knew
Change People think that… into It is said that…. The meaning stays the same. Then read it out loud.
1. People think that the stones are very old. → said that the stones are very old.
2. People believe that the city was special. → It is that the city was special.
1. It is
2. said
Remember: People think that… and It is said that… both mean "many people believe this, but we are not sure."
There is a real podcast about Machu Picchu. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by historians, roughly 50 minutes.
Listen on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Machu Picchu in your own words. Use these steps to help you: the Inca empire and the emperor → building the city in the mountains → the Spanish soldiers arrive → the city is left empty and lost → Bingham and the local people → famous today.
Try to use some of the key words (empire, mountain, stone, build, leave, lost, explorer, ruin), and try to say one thing with "People think that…" or "It is said that…".
Nobody is 100% sure why the Inca built Machu Picchu or why they left it. Say what people believe — but do not say who. Use: "People think that…", "It is said that…", "Many people believe that…". For example: "It is said that it was a home for the king." Give two or three ideas, then say which idea you like best.
Tell me about a famous old place in your country. Say what people believe or say about it: "People think that it is very old.", "It is said that a king built it.", "Many people believe that…". Use these phrases even when you are not 100% sure.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: