Andean Inca 1

Summary

The Inca Empire, known for its monumental architecture and engineering prowess, ruled across various regions with a centralized authority. They were masters of stone carving, constructing 20,000 miles of roads and impressive structures at high altitudes. The Inca's societal structure was based on reciprocity, with a taxation system that included tributes in the form of textiles and labor. They also practiced standardization in stonework and textiles. The empire's communication relied on a unique system of knotted strings, known as 'khipu,' which recorded information using a decimal system. The Inca's origin story is tied to the sun god Inti, and their architecture, including the iconic Machu Picchu, reflects their connection to the natural environment and their belief in the axis mundi, or center of the world.

Takeaways

• 📅 The Inca Empire was a vast empire that spanned across different regions including the north, central, and south coasts, with its rule being complete from north to south.
• 🌐 The term 'empire' refers to a large area under the control of a central ruler with strong generals and governors, similar to the Roman and British empires.
• 🗺️ The Inca Empire was the largest territory in the world by 1500 CE, with its origins dating back to 4500 BCE, and significant developments starting in the 14th century.
• 🛠️ The Incas were master engineers and stone carvers, known for their monumental architecture and 20,000 miles of hand-built roads at high altitudes.
• 🏛️ The Inca's architecture was not only functional but also served to assert their power and communicate with the gods, reflecting a strong state control.
• 💼 The Inca Empire was characterized by a system of taxation that included tributes in the form of textiles, agriculture, and labor.
• 🔢 The Incas practiced standardization in stone cutting and weaving, ensuring uniformity in their constructions and textiles.
• 🔄 The concept of reciprocity was central to Inca society, where the state would provide for its people in exchange for their labor, exemplified by the construction of Machu Picchu.
• 📜 The Incas had a tool for recording information called a 'khipu,' a knotted string document used for accounting and possibly more complex record-keeping.
• 🧮 A significant breakthrough in understanding khipus was achieved by a Harvard student, Manny Medrano, who discovered that the colors and knot placements could be linked to census data.
• 🏰 The Inca's monumental stone architecture, like the structures at Machu Picchu, was designed to mimic the natural landscape, reflecting the Andean worldview.

Q & A

What is the significance of the spelling 'Inca' with both 'c' and 'k'?

Both spellings 'Inca' and 'Inka' are considered correct, reflecting variations in transliteration from the Quechua language.

How did the Inca Empire expand its rule across different regions?

The Inca Empire expanded by conquering various indigenous groups and establishing a centralized rule with strong generals and governors, similar to other historical empires like the Roman and British Empires.

What is the definition of an empire as mentioned in the script?

An empire is defined as a large, ever-growing area that has one central ruler with strong generals and governors who obey the emperor's commands, even from a great distance.

How did the Inca Empire's size compare to other territories in the world around 1500 CE?

The Inca Empire was the largest territory in the world at 1500 CE, controlling a vast area with a population of around 10 million people.

What is unique about the Inca's engineering and architecture achievements?

The Incas were masters of engineering and stone carving, constructing 20,000 miles of hand-built roads at high altitudes and creating monumental architecture that was both a message to potential opponents and to the gods they worshipped.

What was the Inca Empire known for in terms of taxation and how was it collected?

The Inca Empire was known for its taxation system where everyone, regardless of age or health, was taxed. The taxes were usually in the form of tribute, such as textiles, agricultural products, or labor on buildings.

What is the concept of 'reciprocity' as it relates to the Inca Empire?

Reciprocity in the Inca Empire refers to the mutual exchange of goods and services, such as the state providing food in exchange for labor on projects like building Machu Picchu.

How did the Inca record information before the Spanish arrival?

The Inca used a tool for recording information known as a 'khipu' or 'quipu', which was a knotted string document based on a decimal system and used for accounting and recording data.

What is the significance of the 'axis mundi' in Inca culture?

The 'axis mundi' in Inca culture refers to the center of the world, with Cusco being considered the center of the Inca universe. It was a central point from which 41 radial precincts extended, representing different social statuses.

How did the Inca's monumental stone architecture reflect their connection to nature?

Inca monumental stone architecture, such as the zigzag walls and the Inca throne, was designed to mirror the natural environment, particularly the silhouette of the mountains, symbolizing their deep connection to and reverence for nature.

What was the role of the 'keeper of the khipu' in Inca society?

The keeper of the khipu was a highly regarded individual in the Inca community, responsible for maintaining and interpreting the knotted string documents, which were an essential part of their record-keeping and oral tradition.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Inca Empire Overview

The paragraph introduces the Inca civilization, emphasizing their status as an empire with extensive control across various regions including the north, central, and south coasts. It discusses the correct spelling of 'Inca' and the timeline of their rule. The Inca Empire is characterized by a centralized power with strong governance, comparable to other historical empires like the Roman and British. The narrative also touches on the Inca's engineering prowess, particularly in road construction and stone carving, and their practice of taxation and standardization. The concept of reciprocity is introduced, highlighting how the Inca society functioned and the importance of state control. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the Inca's prehistoric nature and their unique method of information recording through a 'kings list,' which blends myth with historical figures.

05:03

🌟 Inca Expansion and Kipu

This section delves into the expansion of the Inca Empire, with a focus on the heart of the empire in Cusco. The Inca origin story, which involves the sun god Inti and the golden spear, is highlighted. The paragraph contrasts the Inca's knowledge with other Andean groups, attributing the reason for more extensive knowledge to their contact with the Spanish, who documented history, and the use of 'quipus' or knotted string documents for record-keeping. The quipus are described as a complex accounting system based on a decimal system, incorporating colors and knot placements to convey information. The role of Inca runners in传递ing messages across the extensive road network is mentioned, along with the significance of the quipu keepers in the community. A modern breakthrough in understanding quipus by a Harvard student is also noted, which connected the color and knot patterns to census data.

10:03

🏰 Monumental Stone Architecture

The focus of this paragraph is on the Inca's monumental stone architecture, particularly their ability to create structures that mimic the natural environment. The Inca's technique of lithification is discussed, exemplified by the replication of mountain silhouettes in their constructions. The paragraph mentions the importance of terracing in Andean culture and how it reflects a manipulation of the landscape to suit human needs. Cusco is identified as the 'axis mundi' or center of the Inca universe, with a map illustrating the radial precincts emanating from the center. The paragraph also describes the Inca throne and zigzag walls, suggesting their ceremonial and ritual significance rather than being spaces for daily living. The alignment of these structures with the natural landscape is emphasized, showcasing the Inca's integration of architecture with nature.

15:05

⛰️ Natural Integration and Ritual

This paragraph discusses the Inca's integration of nature into their ceremonial sites, exemplified by the use of sharp steps carved into the hillside for elite rulers to oversee troops and ceremonies. The belief that these sites were also used for sacrifices, weddings, and other rituals is mentioned. The paragraph emphasizes the shadows cast in these spaces, symbolizing the connection between the mountains, nature, and ceremonial practices. The significance of reciprocity in the Inca society is reiterated through the labor-intensive construction of these sites, highlighting the collective effort and the power it symbolized. The paragraph concludes with a visual description of the scale of these structures, with some stones reaching up to 13 feet high, underscoring the grandeur and the Inca's mastery over their environment.

Keywords

💡Inca Empire

The Inca Empire was a large empire in South America that ruled across various regions, including the north, central, and south coasts. It is characterized by its extensive rule from a central authority with strong governance structures. The script mentions that the Inca Empire was the largest territory in the world at 1500 CE, highlighting its significance and the extent of its control.

💡Empire

An empire is defined as a large, ever-growing area under the rule of a single central authority. The Inca Empire exemplifies this concept, with a central ruler and subordinate generals and governors who enforced the emperor's will across vast distances. The script discusses the typical growth pattern of empires, including the Inca, which expand until they become unsustainable and then decline.

💡Standardization

Standardization refers to the process of making things uniform or conforming to a standard. The Inca were known for their standardized stone cutting and weaving techniques, which allowed for efficient construction and production across their empire. The script emphasizes the Inca's meticulous approach to craftsmanship, which was indicative of their engineering prowess.

💡Reciprocity

Reciprocity in the context of the Inca Empire pertains to the mutual exchange of goods, services, or support. The script mentions that the Inca provided food in exchange for labor, such as building Machu Picchu, which illustrates the social and economic dynamics of the empire. This concept was integral to the Inca's societal structure and their approach to governance.

💡Taxation

Taxation in the Inca Empire took the form of tribute, which could include textiles, agricultural produce, or labor. The script notes that the Inca taxed everyone, regardless of age or health, reflecting the state's control over resources and labor. This system was a key aspect of the Inca's economic and social organization.

💡Kipu

A kipu is a knotted string document used by the Inca for recording information, based on a decimal system. They served as an accounting system and were used to record census data and other numerical information. The script describes a significant breakthrough in understanding kipu by a Harvard student, which revealed that the colors and knot placements held specific meanings related to population counts.

💡Monumental Architecture

Monumental architecture refers to the large-scale, impressive structures built by the Inca, often using stone. The script discusses the Inca's mastery of stone carving and their construction of monumental buildings that served both practical and symbolic purposes, such as demonstrating their engineering skills and sending messages of power.

💡Lithification

Lithification, as mentioned in the script, is the process of creating large stone sculptures or structures that mimic the natural environment. The Inca were known for their lithification, particularly in the construction of buildings and monuments that resembled the silhouettes of the Andean mountains, reflecting their deep connection with the natural world.

💡Axis Mundi

The Axis Mundi, or 'center of the world,' is a concept that signifies the central, most sacred point in a culture's cosmology. In the Inca Empire, Cusco was considered the Axis Mundi, from which 41 radial precincts extended, symbolizing the emperor's central role and the structured social hierarchy. The script describes the sacred precinct at Cusco and its significance in Inca cosmology.

💡Terracing

Terracing is the practice of creating flat areas on sloping land for agriculture. The script mentions that the Andeans had been terracing hillsides for millennia, which allowed them to cultivate crops like potatoes. This agricultural technique was not only practical but also reflected the Inca's ability to manipulate and control their environment.

Highlights

The Inca Empire's rule extended across various regions including the north, central, and south coasts.

The term 'empire' is defined as a large, ever-growing area under one central ruler with strong governance.

The Inca Empire was the largest territory in the world by 1500 CE.

The Inca were known for their engineering and stone carving, with 20,000 miles of hand-built roads.

The Inca's monumental architecture served as a message to both potential opponents and the gods.

The Inca Empire practiced extensive taxation in the form of tribute, including textiles and labor.

Standardization was key in Inca culture, evident in their stone cutting and textile weaving.

The concept of reciprocity was central to Inca society, with examples like feeding workers in exchange for construction labor.

The Inca had a prehistoric culture but used a tool for recording information known as a kipu.

Kipus are knotted string documents based on a decimal system, used for accounting and possibly more.

The Inca origin story involves the Sun God Inti and the foundation of Cusco.

The Inca's monumental stone architecture aimed to replicate the natural environment, particularly the Andes mountains.

Cusco was considered the axis mundi, or center of the Inca universe, with radial precincts extending from it.

The Inca Throne and zigzag walls at Saxa Human are examples of monumental stone architecture.

The Inca's use of lithification showcased their ability to carve giant stone sculptures from living rock.

Contemporary Andean artists like Vicuña incorporate ancient techniques like kipu in their work.

Recent academic breakthroughs, such as by Manny Medrano, have shed light on the meaning of kipu colors and knot placements.

Transcripts

jot down the learning objectives these

are the things you'll be listening for

as we go through our conversation about

the inca

so we're going to revisit our timeline

and take a look at where we find the

inca notice that it is spelled with both

a c

and a k both are considered correct

and you can see here that they are an

empire which is ruling

across the regions so remember we've got

north coast central coast south coast

etc

this pink line tells us that their rule

was complete

north to south north to south

some maps will show you expansions

depending on who

the um the inca leader was at the time

the definition of an empire is a large

ever-growing area that is has one

central ruler with strong generals and

governors who will do what that emperor

says

even if they're at a tremendous distance

so you're familiar with the roman empire

we've got the british empire

and as you know with all empires they

grow and they grow and they grow

until they get too big and then they

shrink or they collapse

and that of course will be the story

with the inca as the spanish

come on the scene

can you imagine a hundred thousand inca

controlling

10 million people so all of these groups

that you see here who

are flourishing at the time right before

the

empire develops they're going to be

people who are taken over

by the empire it's important to remember

that

the indigenous groups are not blameless

in these conversations

about destroying other indigenous groups

of course it is the spanish who signal

that final

death knell for the inca empire

the inca empire was the largest

territory in the world

at 1500 ce

there had been hunter gatherers in the

valley of cusco since 4500 bce

but it wasn't until the 14th century

that things really got started

can you imagine twenty thousand miles of

hand-built roads

created at this tremendous altitude

as you'll come to see the incas are

masters of engineering and stone carving

their monumental architecture sends a

strong message

both to anyone who would oppose them but

also to the gods that they worship

this is a land of tremendous state

control

and these are the ideas that we've been

talking about as we've been discussing

the concept

of reciprocity and how

that impacts freedom

of decision-making and artistic skill

the inca empire was well known for its

taxation

and they taxed everybody whether you

were a child

whether you were ill whether you were

elderly

and usually taxation was formed

it came in the form of tribute so

textiles

agriculture uh working on a building

those were all sort of in

kind uh taxation forms

the inca are well known for

standardization

stone cutting so they're going to have

us you know how if you um

a brick is always the same size this is

the kind of idea that they're going to

have standardization

and you'll see this in stone work as

well as in their

weavings textiles the concept of

reciprocity

we will feed you while you build machu

picchu that kind of a thing

so these principles of verticality

reciprocity dualism are

continuing to abide during the inca

period

the inca are a prehistoric culture

but they do have a tool for recording

information

and this is nothing that you need to

memorize just know that it

exists many cultures have something

called

a kings list

and this is a record of who was

in charge now note here that

this beginning of the list is recorded

as being

mythical so we've got names that are so

early we don't know if they were real

historic people or people who are just

part of the mythology

there are some where we don't know if

they're uh

real or mythological to the point of

where they say unknown

and then we've got uh high imperial

inca rulers where we know for sure that

they were historic individuals people

who really existed

and that dates from 1438 until the fall

uh with the last inca

emperor altihuapa you can

notice then the expansion of the

different inca

centers with the time frames along with

it but beginning

mostly with the heart of the inca empire

in

cusco the

inca origin story is based on the

sun god inti and his

instructions to

mama ocho about sending a golden spear

into the ground

so how do we know what we know well the

reason we know

more about the inca than the other

andean groups is twofold

one of which is because of the fact that

they had contact with the spanish and

the spanish were a historic culture they

wrote stuff down

and the second which is really much more

interesting is this

object that you see here known as a kipu

both spellings are correct this is

a knotted string document

and it is based on

the numeric decimal system of 10

and it is an accounting system but it

also

utilizes colors and the way that the

knots

are located on the string

so these were documents that were rolled

up into a bundle

and they were carried by the inca

runners what are you going to do with

those 20 000 miles of roads

how are you going to get messages from

cusco all the way north or all the way

south

you're going to send it on a key poop

we know about these because they are

many still

extant today there are some that were

found

in mummy bundles uh so perhaps the

the uh those mummies were of the of the

runners

uh perhaps they were people who were

sending messages who kept the mummy

bundles in that way

and because of the environment and

because they're textiles they survive

this is a artist reconstruction

of an image from a text that we're going

to talk about

a lot when we talk about the post

contact inca world

for now we're going to suffice it to say

that this serves as a visualization

of what the keeper would have looked

like how it was used

and there is a concept that

you would first do the math and then you

would make the kiku

and they've got stone evidence of these

little counting

boxes that perhaps were the way that

those messages were saved

the keeper of the kipu was somebody who

was

highly regarded in the community and on

the left is a modern day photograph

of kipo keepers

who were in the ancient world

passing down the information through

these knotted cord systems

so ideas that are passed down from

father to son

this is part of an oral tradition that

is backed

up by having these actual

documents so these have puzzled

academics for years trying to figure out

exactly

what do these say they know it's for

counting

they know it's a dynamic document

that the colors mean something that

whether the knots are printed right or

left means something but

very recently there was a big

breakthrough

and it was done by an undergrad at

harvard

this is manny medrano on the right and

there is his profe on the left

and he decided he he's a math major who

happened to find himself

in a pre-columbian history class and he

was fascinated by

the kipu he has a mexicano so he's not

is a peruvian

but that's okay what he did was he

decided that he was going to take home

this model of akipu over spring break

and try to figure it out

mathematically and what he came to

realize

is that the colors and the ways the

knots are created

means that there is a front and a back

or

a an obverse and a reverse

and then he was able to affiliate that

information

with the census the counting of the

people

in the region at that point in time and

so he came back to school he shared this

with his professor who of course was

going to double check his ideas

then this was a huge breakthrough now

this particular

kipu was from the um

about the the 1600s so it was a good

hundred years after contact but that

doesn't mean that the inca didn't keep

doing what they'd always been doing they

did in fact

um making their art their textiles um

after the spanish arrives so this was a

really fascinating breakthrough

i also would like to introduce you to

a contemporary artist who is

of andean descent and her particular

interest area is based on textiles look

at her name vicuna

that's one of the animals that the that

the fibers come from

if you will uh google uh disappeared

kipu you can see

her her um her performance piece

on youtube and you can uh watch the

people interacting and knotting and

unknotting these giant cords

this is one of her stationary pieces

that you can see

it's really fun to be able to

incorporate contemporary

artists with the um the ancient

ways so let's

talk about monumental

stone architecture so far most

everything we've looked at

structure wise was made from adobe mud

brick but the inca had other things in

mind

and they are known for what's called

lithification of creating

giant stone sculptures structures

that replicate the natural environment

the mountains are everything right in

the andean region so here

shrouded in clouds you see the the andes

and then here is this

perfectly replicated

silhouette if you will of the mountains

that are behind it

this particular example has to comes

from machu picchu

remember that the andeans had been

terracing

hillsides for millennia this is how they

grew

all those potatoes that they needed and

this terracing cutting up and back up

and back up and back that is an example

of the step

fret isn't it so this idea of

manipulating the landscape

of humans being in control is something

that is very

appealing to the andean world view but

they're

also trying to replicate those very

mountains that you see

it is cusco then that is the axis mundi

or

center of the inca universe the axis

mundi is a term in latin

that means the center of the world and

we will use that across time and culture

so we will have the axis mundi for the

aztec world

the axis mundi for the people at tel te

wakan so this is a term that we use

in that way on the right is a

map of the sacred precinct at cusco

and so this would be where the emperor

would live

and from the center of that complex

there are 41

radial precincts so there's like these

lines that go out from the center do you

remember how we've been talking about

rays and the raid face

okay so lines emanating from the center

same idea here so the inca

emperor is living here there's all these

41 different sections that are divided

by what your status is in the inca world

and this

is the axis mundi the center of the

universe

this dotted line you see here is

detailed

on the right and we're going to take a

look at this object called the inca

throne and the zigzag walls

whether or not it was really a throne

that's sort of an english word but we

are

assuming that this was

a ritual space because of the time and

energy

that it took to create this is not a

daily living space this is a ceremonial

space

where there would have been a procession

and you can see

step step step and this would have been

a place where the high

elite would have gathered so we would

call this monumental stone

architecture and it is right next to

these very large stone walls

which are at location

saxa human and i particularly like this

image that you see because it

shows you how the mountains in the

background

the valleys between the mountains they

line up

with this huge stone wall

that you see again an example

of monumental stone architecture just

outside of the sacred precinct

at an elevation of 10 thousand

feet both these zigzag walls and the

throne

are carved from the living rock that

means they didn't bring stone

in they carved the stone that was

already there

here we see a series of sharp steps that

are carved

to mirror the hillside this would have

been used by the sapa inca or elite

ruler

in order to view and watch troops and

ceremonies

he drew his power from nature from the

hillside

it is also believed that this was an

offering site a place for sacrifice

and weddings as well

so these shadows that are cast this idea

of

coming down into this space

hooking together um

the mountains and nature and ceremony

and ritual

are a really important part of the

andean

mine set some of these individual stones

that you see down here at the bottom are

up to 13 feet high

and this shows you this the the power

that would have been drawn together

to get people to do this this is the

ultimate in reciprocity you see there's

people down here to give you a sense of

the scale