Inca Civilization
Present Day Location
AtIt’s Height, The Inca Empire included modern day peru, what
are today of Modern day Chile, At The North of the Maule.
In Prehistoric Peru, The Inca Civilization thrived between and they ruled over all
of Western South America between the years 1400 and 1533 CE, From Quito in
the north to Santiago in the south. The Empire is the biggest ever seen in the
Americas and the biggest in the entire world at the time.
The Incas Subjucated people and abused the earth in a variety of environments,
including plains, mountains, deserts, and tropical jungle, unfazed by the frequently
harsh Andean Environment. They Built impressive, well-built buildings
everywhere they conqured, and they conquered, and their spectacular adaption of
the natural landscape with terracing, highways, and mountain top settlements
coutinues to astound modern visitors at such well known locations as Machu
Picchu. They were known for their distinctive art and architecture.
Inca Agriculture
They Developed resilient breeds of crops such as
potatoes, quinoa and corn. They Built System and
imigation canals that snaked and angled down and
around the mountains. And they cut terraces into
the hillside, progessive
Simple implements including a hoe, clod breaker, and foot plough (the
chakitaqlla), which was a pointed rod made of wood or bronze that was driven
into the ground by resting one's foot on a horizontal bar, were used to till the
land. Cobblestones that had been sharpened were often used to make hoe
blades. Farmers worked in small groups of seven or eight, frequently singing
while they worked, with the men hoeing and the women trailing after, breaking
up clods and scattering seeds. Agriculture was a communal activity. Children
and teenagers were in charge of caring after the family herd of camels in the
meantime.
Crops grown throughout the Inca Empire included maize, coca, beans, grains,
potatoes, sweet potatoes, ulluco, oca, mashwa, pepper, tomatoes, peanuts,
cashews, squash, cucumber, quinoa, gourd, cotton, talwi, carob, chirimoya,
lcuma, guayabo, and avocado. The majority of the livestock consisted of llama
and alpaca herds. These animals were important in many parts of Andean
culture since they produced wool, meat, leather, transportable wealth,
transportation - especially for the army - and were frequently sacrificed in
religious ceremonies. Some of the largest state-owned herds could include tens
of thousands of animals, and all herds were methodically accounted for in a
November official census.
The Incas were ambitious farmers who altered the environment with terracing,
canals, and irrigation networks to maximize agricultural productivity, while
marshes were frequently drained to make them suitable for farming.
Furthermore, the Incas understood the importance of crop rotation and fertilized
the field with dried llama dung, guano, or fish heads if these materials were
available. Even yet, the often severe Andes climate may bring floods, droughts,
and storms, as well as disease, resulting in yearly crop failures. In such times,
the Inca ability for food preservation came into play.
Food Storage
Food (and other supplies) were stored in tens of thousands of
storehouses (qollqa) built across the empire, generally in tidy rows
near population centers, big estates, and roadside stops. The quipu, a
string and knot recording instrument, was used by state authorities to
keep careful accounts of their stocks. Qollqa were single-roomed stone
structures that were either round or rectangular in shape and built in a
strikingly homogeneous fashion. Qollqa were built on hillsides to take
advantage of cool breezes and to maximize the storage time of the
perishable foods they held. They had drainage canals, gravel floors,
and ventilation in the floor and ceiling to make the interior as cool and
dry as possible so that common things may be stored there.
Astronomy/ Calendars
The Inca Civilization in Peru placed great importance on
astronomy. They were the only culture in the world to
define constellations of both light and darkness. The Incas
not only identified constellations and individuals stars, but
they also assigned each a purpose.
The Importance of Astronomy of Inca
For the Inca civilization, astronomy was very important mainly due to its use in religion and agriculture.
The Incas could identify the solstices, equinoxes, the changes of season in order to better identify the time of
sowing and harvesting.
During the Inca Empire, the urban distribution of the city of Cusco imitated the constellations in the sky. Thus, the
city had the shape of a puma, where the Sacsayhuaman fortress was the head of the feline and the Coricancha
temple, the tail.
Finally, the Inca religion was based on astronomy. The Inca pantheon was made up of the sun, the moon, the stars,
and more.
How the Incas saw the stars
Gazing up at a starry night sky is nothing short of magical. People
have long been fascinated with stars, and have attempted to find
meaning in what they saw in the sky. The Inca civilization in Peru
placed great importance on astronomy. They were the only culture in
the world to define constellations of both light and darkness. The Incas
not only identified constellations and individual stars, but they also
assigned each a purpose. They believed that everything in and around
our world was connected.
Constellations
Upon looking at the stars, the Inca noticed many animals and other representations from their day to day
lives. They believed that Viracocha had ensured that each animal had a corresponding star and that all living
things were protected. Grouping these stars into constellations became very important to the Inca.
The Inca sorted the constellations into two groups. The first and most common groupings of stars were linked in a
connect-the-dots manner to create pictures of animals, Gods, heroes and more. These constellations were
considered as inanimate. One star grouping known as Pleiades was especially believed to be influential over the
well-being of animals. Pleiades was not seen as a greater God to the Inca, but they rather saw it as a huaca to
which shamans would make regular sacrifices.
The second type of constellations could only be observed when there were no stars: they were the dark spots or
blotches on the Milky Way. These dark blotches were considered as living (animate) animals. The animals were
believed to live in the Milky Way, which they thought of as a river. The Inca were one of the few civilizations
who were able to locate their constellations without the presence of stars. These dark constellations in turn made
up the Inca zodiac.
Mach'acuay – the Serpent.
Hanp'atu – the Toad.
Yutu – the Tinamou.
Urcuchillay – the Llama.
Atoq – the Fox.
Kantur – the Condor.
Astronomy was particularly significant to the Inca civilization, owing to its
applications in religion and agriculture.The Incas could discern solstices,
equinoxes, and seasonal variations to better determine when to sow and
harvest. Cusco's metropolitan layout mirrored the constellations in the sky
under the Inca Empire. As a result, the city took the form of a puma, with
the Sacsayhuaman fortification acting as the head and the Coricancha
temple acting as the tail.Ultimately, the Inca religion was based on
astronomy. The sun, moon, stars, and other celestial bodies were part of the
Inca pantheon.
The Inca Calendar
Astronomical observations led the Incas to envision a solar year divided into
12 periods of 30 days each (3 weeks of 10 days). According to certain
chroniclers, the last day of this period was regarded as the 'qhatu' (fair day)
during which products may be exchanged.The start of the Inca year was
determined by each province of the empire. The year began in August in
Cusco (capital of the empire or Tahuantinsuyo), coinciding with the
commencement of agricultural activity.
The months of the Inca year were:
Raymi (December): The great Easter of the Sun, the ‘Huarachicuy’ ceremony.
Camay (January): Penances and fasts of the Incas.
Jatunpucuy (February): Month of flowers in which sacrifices and offerings were made with enormous
amounts of gold and silver.
Pachapucuy (March): Month of rain when animals were sacrificed.
Arihuaquis (April): Ripening of corn and potatoes (main foods of the Inca people).
May: Month of the harvest.
Aucaycusqui (June): Feast in honor of the sun god (Inti Raymi), coincides with the winter solstice.
Chaguahuarquis (July): Month in which the distribution of land took place, and the preparation for
planting.
Yapaquis (August): Month of sowing.
Coyaraymi (September): Festival in honor of the Coya (queen), and to expel evil spirits and diseases.
Humaraymi (October): Time for the invocation of the rains.
Ayamarca (November): Time to worship the dead
Inca Calendar, the Months
and the Festivals
Capaq Inti-Raymi (December) – This is the great feast of
the Sun, This is “The Great Feast of the Sun, which is the
king of the heavens, of the planets and stars, all up above.
Capaq means “Kings”. Inti means Sun, and Raimi great
feast. Much gold and silver plate is sacrificed to the sun .
Five Hundred Innocent Children boys and girls are buried
alive, standing upright, with these offerings of precious
Camay (January) –The Inca's penance and fasting. During that month they offered sacrifices, fasted, made
penance, and covered their bodies and heads with ashes, as the Incas still do today, and went in procession to the
temples of the Sun, the Moon, their gods, and all huacas (sacred place).
Jatunpucuy (Febraury) - They made offerings of great quantities of gold and silver. The Inca is represented
kneeling bareheaded, making an offering (perhaps to the stone of Huanacauri). This is the wet season, if often
rains... they used in particular to visit the huacas of the high mountains and the snows.
Pachapucuy (March) - The Inca is represented kneeling, about to "sacrifice this black sheep.... The priests and
sorcerers performed many ceremonies, conversed with demons, deprived themselves of salt for I know not how
many days, refrained from contact with women, and ate no fruit.
Arihuaquis ( April) - Feast of the Incas. They sacrifice "red sheep." This is "a very great feast to which all the
lords, the princes, and the poor Incas were invited; they ate, sang, and danced on the main square."
May - The illustration shows Indians carrying supplies of potatoes to the warehouses. It was the feast of the
Aimara; there was much singing and drunkenness.
Aucaycusqui (June) - The month of Inti-Raimi. The Inca is represented "drinking with the Sun at the Feast of the
Sun.“
July - The harvest festival. The illustration shows the High Priest making an agrarian sacrifice before the Inca,
who has removed his headdress.
August - The feast of tilling. Four Incas are shown digging while a woman brings them chicha. (fermented
beverage, corn beer)
September- Great Feast of the Moon, wife of the Sun. The town of Cuzco is purified. The illustration shows three
purifiers banishing evil from the city with torches in their hands.
October- Procession to ask God for water. "This hungry black sheep helps men to weep and ask God for water.“
November - Feast of dead. The mummies of dead kings are carried in state. They are given food, they are clothed
in rich robes, with feathers on their heads; the people sing and dance in their company and carry them through the
streets to the main square.
December - Capac Inti-Raimi. This is " the great Feast of the Sun, which is the king of the heavens, of the planets
and stars, and of all up above. Capac means king, Inti mean Sun, and Raimi great feast. Much gold and silver plate
is sacrificed to the Sun; five hundred innocent children, boys and girls, are buried alive, standing upright, with
these offerings of precious plate and livestock. After the sacrifice, a great feast is held at which they eat and drink
to the Sun and dance in the public squares of Cuzco
INCA TOOLS AND WEAPON
Copper and Bronze were used for Basic forming tools of weapons,
such as Sharp Sticks, for Digging, club heads, knives, with Curved
Blades, axes, chisels, needles, and pins. The Incas had no iron or steel,
so their armor and weaponry consisted of Helmet, spears, and battle-
axes made of copper, bronze, and wood.
INCA’S CIVILIZATIONS OF
MEDICINES
The Incas also had a fairly sophisticated understanding of the
medicinal properties of herbs and plants. The bark of one
tree, for example, produced quinine, which the Incas used
to cure cramps, chills, and many other ailments. The Incas
used the leaves of the coca plant to numb people who were in
pain.
The medicinal plants of the Incas
Inca medicine had its origins in medicinal plants with generally herbal remedies with specific healing properties. And there are medicinal herbs both in the Andean
regions and in the coastal and jungle areas.
These are some of the leaves and grains used by the Incas in their medicine:
Coca leaf – Analgesic source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E that also has digestive properties. Helps cleanse the liver and prevent osteoporosis. For the Incas it
was a sacred leaf that was used only by the elite and in religious healing ceremonies.
Maca – Aphrodisiac, anabolic, revitalizing, restorative, antidepressant, sedative and fertility enhancer.
Cat’s claw – The leaves, bark and root are used as an anti-carcinogen, to reduce the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, against arthritis, venereal diseases,
antiviral, snakebite, measles, anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
Stinging Nettle – Diuretic, cauterizing and anti-anemic due to the presence of minerals, these minerals are concentrated in the hairs of the plant, for this reason their
irritant action on the skin is due when applied to the body.
Chanca de piedra – To make infusions against fever, liver and kidney ailments.
Grade Blood – The bark, leaves and latex are used as a disinfectant, healing for trauma, skin wounds, bleeding, gastric ulcers, etc.
Hercampuri – It is used as a purgative, antidiabetic, diuretic and anti-infective; regulating metabolism and to reduce obesity.
Quinoa – It is a nutritious food, in addition to a medicinaGazing up at a starry night sky is nothing short of magical. People have long been fascinated with stars,
and have attempted to find meaning in what they saw in the sky. The Inca civilization in Peru placed great importance on astronomy. They were the only culture in
the world to define constellations of both light and darkness. The Incas not only identified constellations and individual stars, but they also assigned each a purpose.
They believed that everything in and around our world was connected.l plant, it has diuretic, expectorant and refreshing properties. The seed of this herb with milk
increases the milk of the calves.
Paico – Aromatic herb used as an anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, digestive, carminative, etc.
Achiote – It is used in cases of prostatic inflammation, urinary tract infections, in various conditions of the urogenital system and as a regulator of kidney function.
Inca Scientific and Development
The Inca's greatest technological skill was engineering. The best
example is their amazing system of roads. The Incas built roads across
the length of and width of their empire. To create routes through steep
mountain ranges, they carved staircases and gouged tunnels out of rock.
