ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES: THE INCAN EMPIRE

Summary

In this educational video script, Ben Freeman from Freemanpedia.com explores the Inca Empire, a pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas, focusing on its unique governance and infrastructure. He emphasizes the importance of context in essay writing for AP World History, particularly for the Inca's road system, the mita labor system, and the quipu record-keeping method. Ben also highlights the Inca Empire's significance in exam questions, providing insights on how to approach them effectively.

Takeaways

• 📚 The College Board's description of state building in the Americas for AP World History is quite vague, prompting students to look for more detailed examples.
• 🗺️ The Inca Empire, also known as Tewanant and Suyu, is highlighted as a unique and memorable state system that can help students understand the requirements for AP World History.
• 🏔️ The Inca Empire was situated in a challenging geographical location, flanked by the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the Amazon rainforest.
• 🛣️ The Inca road system was crucial for connecting their vast empire and was used primarily for military and information transport.
• 🏭 The Inca Empire had a communal property system where everything was shared, and there was no private property.
• 🔄 The mit'a system required all able-bodied men to work for the state for certain periods, contributing to construction, agriculture, or military service.
• 📊 The kipu was a unique record-keeping system using knotted ropes, which helped the Incas administer their empire.
• 🌐 The Inca Empire's governance strategies are relevant to AP World History exams, as they can be used to answer questions about pre-Columbian states.
• 📈 The 2022 AP World History exam included a long essay question about pre-Columbian state systems in the Americas, where the Inca Empire could have been a key example.
• 🎓 It's important for students to not skip the first two units of AP World History, as they can be less frequently asked about but are still crucial for understanding the course material.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the Inca Empire, specifically focusing on its governance, road system, mita system, and quipu as part of the AP World History curriculum.

Why does the speaker feel the Inca Empire is a good example for the College Board's AP World History exam?

The speaker believes the Inca Empire is a good example because it is unique, easy to remember, and covers various aspects that the College Board could ask about in the exam, such as governance, innovation, and diversity.

What does the speaker suggest is the best way to begin an essay for the AP World History exam?

The speaker suggests starting an essay with context, similar to the opening crawl in Star Wars movies, to ease the reader into the topic and provide background information relevant to the essay's main argument.

What is the significance of the Inca road system in maintaining governance over the empire?

The Inca road system was crucial for connecting different parts of the empire, facilitating the movement of military, information, and supplies, which helped the Incas maintain governance over a vast and geographically challenging area.

What is the mita system and how did it function in the Inca Empire?

The mita system was a form of mandatory community service where every able-bodied male from age 15 to 50 was required to work for the state for certain periods, contributing to agriculture, construction, or military service.

What are quipus and how were they used in the Inca Empire?

Quipus were a system of knotted strings used by the Incas for record-keeping, including tracking economic output, census data, and even as a form of communication. They were managed by specialized accountants called kipu kamayuq.

How did the Inca Empire's geography influence its development and governance?

The Inca Empire's location between the Atacama Desert and the Amazon rainforest, with the Andes Mountains in between, influenced its development by necessitating a robust road system and a strong centralized governance to manage the diverse and challenging terrain.

What is the speaker's advice for students preparing for the AP World History exam regarding the Inca Empire?

The speaker advises students to focus on three key aspects of the Inca Empire: the road system, the mita system, and the quipus, as these are likely to be relevant for exam questions about pre-Columbian American governance.

How does the speaker relate the Inca Empire's governance to the broader historical context of the AP World History curriculum?

The speaker places the Inca Empire within the post-classical period (1200 to 1450) of the AP World History curriculum, emphasizing its unique characteristics and challenges as a mountain-based civilization.

What is the significance of the Inca Empire's lack of private property and how did it impact governance?

The absence of private property in the Inca Empire centralized authority and resources, allowing for efficient distribution and control over land, housing, and food, which was crucial for the empire's governance and the functioning of the mita system.