The Inca Empire was one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. Scholars believe that these South American Indians migrated to the Cuzco Valley in southeastern Peru around 1200 CE. The Incas were organized and had great leadership. They were excellent farmers. They built an irrigation system in the desert. They even built paved roads. They formed a powerful army and conquered nearby villages. The Incas expanded their territory, at one point controlling most of South America.

Despite the vastness and strength of their empire, the Incas were no match for the Spanish conquistadors. The conquistadors came to the New World in search of fortune. Their greed, ruthlessness, and contempt for native cultures proved deadly for the Incas. However, nothing was more deadly than the smallpox with which the conquistadors infected the Incas. By 1535, the conquistadors had wiped out the Inca Empire, needlessly destroying a grand civilization.

Which sentence from the passage best conveys the author's claim?

Question 1 options:

The conquistadors came to the New World in search of fortune.

The Inca Empire was one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen.

The Incas expanded their territory, at one point controlling most of South America.

Scholars believe that these South American Indians migrated to the Cuzco Valley in southeastern Peru around 1200 CE.