Inca Culture Kelly Prince
History Estimates ranging from 4 million people to over 37 million people have been debated as the population of the Inca empire at its peak was the largest empire in pre-columbian America Pachacuti's son Túpac Inca Yupanqui began conquests to the north in 1463 His most important conquest was the Kingdom of Chimor, the Inca's only serious rival for the coast of Peru. Túpac Inca's empire stretched north into modern day Ecuador and Colombia. Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro and his brothers explored Panama, reaching Inca territory by 1526 In July 1529 the queen of Spain signed a charter allowing Pizarro to conquer the Incas
Location & Migration Empire was called "Tawantinsuyu" Land of the 4 Quarters Inca Capital: Cuzco Mainly the left shore of South America 1532: The Inca empire migration ranged from the pacific coast to the Atlantic coast and from central Chile to Ecuador Currently most popular in Peru
Climate Hot & Dry Scientist say Incas would be nothing without the good weather produced by the climate Glacial ice supplied plenty of water and crops
Resources Potatoes Tomatoes Cotton Peanuts Coca Llama were used for transportation and meat Always more than enough resources for everyone
Economic Lifestyle The Inca had a controlled planned economy. The government would take a percentage from clans as tribute. The elders who could not do hard labor, would make textile products as tribute. No evidence of a market economy or currency People were required to pay taxes in the form of labor and in return were given necessities
Fall of the Inca Empire Deadly plague, small pox, swept through the empire following the Spanish Invasion. Within a few years smallpox claimed between 60% and 94% of the Inca population Francisco Pizarro and his brother conquered the empire under the order of the queen of spain in 1529 Manco tried to use the feud between brothers to his advantage. He recaptured Cusco in 1536, but the Spanish retook the city afterwards. After the fall of the Inca Empire the Inca culture were slowly destroyed
Government The ruler was said to be a "descendant of the Sun God Inti." He would not be considered a god, but was treated as such. The ruler would marry his sister and was not allowed to marry "humans" Their oldest child wasn't necessarily heir to the throne, the child who was most fit was chosen Each person had his own responsibility and freedom to live his life while contributing to society. The more powerful you were, the more people you controlled. In the Inca they had very serious laws. If you committed murder you were thrown off a cliff. If you stole or cheated your hands and feet were to be cut off and fed to the animals. The common people were divided into clans called "ayllus". To join a clan, you ancestry was traced. You married within your clan and interacted with the government through your clan. You also paid your taxes through the clan.
Relationships & Family Life Families had arranged marraiges Women's responsibilities were weaving textiles. Men's responsibilities were to farm, to mine and to serve one time in the army. The leading Inca owned all the land, but families were given land to farm depending on how many children they had.
Contributions to Society Architecture was one of the most important Inca arts. The Inca's built large beautiful structures such as Machu Pichu, inspiring architects today The Inca's contributed in medicine and surgery, they made many discoveries in medicine. Designed organized road systems, influencing those of the Spanish conquistadors and todays modern roads Calenders Astronomy Mathematics/ measuring system
Religion Women called "Aclla" were the virgins who performed religious duties. The Sun God Inti was the most powerful, but there were various other gods and there was also ancestral worship. Believed strongly in reincarnation Viracocha Created all living things Apu Illapu was the Rain God, prayed to when they need rain Mama Occlo was the god who gave wisdom to civilize the people, taught women to weave cloth, and build houses Manco Cápac wasknown for his courage and sent to earth to become first king of the Incas, taught people how to grow plants, make weapons, work together and worship the Gods
Music 1. 2. Inca music had only five tones (do, re, fa, sol, la) It was enough to create 4 different types of music melodies Haylli (War melodies)- in battlefield before battle Ayarachi (Funeral melodies- burial ceremonies or days of grieving 3. Harawi (Religious melodies)-talk about infinite power of the Inca god Wiracocha 4. Trillatakiy (Agricultural labor melodies)- about love and ancedotes Made instruments from copper, stone, bones, or wood.
Literature Hand weaving was practiced, used instead of writing in some cases They did not write, but passed down all their knowledge orally. They used rope with string hanging down in knots called "quipu / kipu" as a method to remembering things and events. Official language was Quechua, spoken in hundreds of different local dialects Lacked a written language
Art Inca pottery is the best well known artwork They used feathers to decorate everything, such as Inca masks, head decorations, temple wall decorations, armors of brave Inca warriors, and many other artifacts
Clothing Clothes consisted of woven or knitted tiles, they were held together by large metal pins Women- wore a one-piece dress that reached to the ankles and was bound by the waist Men- wore a sleeveless tunic with a large cloak to wear over the shoulders
Customs Women married at 16 The Inca army was the most powerful in the area at that time, because they could turn an ordinary villager or farmer into a soldier, ready for battle Inca Leaders were mummified Men were both farmers and soldiers at a moments notice Prayed to specific gods for certain necessities Ex: Rain God, Apu Illapu, for good rain to grow crops
Cuisine The civilization stretched across many regions, which meant a great diversity of plants and animals. Amaranth was one of the regular foods Chili peppers were an important and daily part of their diet Potatoes were also a regular part of their diet, there were over hundred varieties of it
Education Starts as soon as they the baby is born, they won't hold the baby so they don't get used to being in the arms of their parents Once the baby can sit and walk by themselves the parents teach them how to take care of the family Once the child is three they assign them responsibilities, such as grazing animals, this continues till they are nine Once a child is nine the parents duty of teaching them now is joined with the government-the government assigns them duties At this point boys and girls lead their own educational path, boys have physical competitions and the girls have home education.
Technology The Incas had no iron or steel, and their weapons were not much better than those of their enemies Used bones, wood, copper and animal skin to create weapons such as swords, helmets and attire. The Inca used assemblages of knotted strings, known as Quipu to record information The Inca made many discoveries in medicine. They performed skull surgery at a 80-90% success rate, they cut holes in the skull in order to relieve fluid buildup and inflammation caused by head wounds.
Cited Sources O'Connor, J. J. "Mathematics of the Incas." Inca Mathematics. Jan. 2001. Web. 06 June 2012. <http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac. uk/histtopics/inca_mathematics.html>. Hagen, Von. "The Incas." The Incas. Latina America Studies, Feb. 1996. Web. 06 June 2012. <http://www.latinamericanstudies. org/incas/collier.htm>. "Inca Civilization." Crystalinks. Web. 06 June 2012. <http: //crystalinks.com/incan.html>. Gascoigne, Bamber. History of Incas HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. <http://www.historyworld. net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp? groupid=3077&historyid=ac84>rack=pthc> Clark, Liesl. "The Lost Inca Empire." PBS. PBS, 01 Nov. 2000. Web. 06 June 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/lost-incaempire.html>.