The Incas did not have any written language. Some suggest that they
must have used some symbols and diagrams. The Incas did have a class
of verbal historians. It was their job to keep the stories and history
alive by telling it to others and passing it on to the next generation.
The Incas had no formal system of mathematics. They used quipus to keep records of things like crops, live stock, number of soldiers, and other things that could be counted. The quipus were colored strings with knots tied into them. The different colors and the different types of knots recorded different information. It required special quipu rememberers to interpret the knots. Even though many of these quipus exist no one can interpret what they mean.
Not only did the Incas build temples and palaces and other buildings.
They built almost 10,000 miles of roads. They built large rope suspension
bridges to cross rivers. They built aqueducts to move water for irrigation.
The stone masons were so good at their craft that the stones fit perfectly
without any mortar.
The Inca fashioned jewelry,
statuettes,
cloth, and clothing. Often the jewelry and statues were for religious purposes
or had religious significance.
ACTIVITY
Create a quipu using colored yarn. Pretend you are the quipu rememberer
and tell us about your quipu.
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