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Inca
Calendar: The Incan calendar was important
to the ancient Incas for religious reasons. Each calendar month hosted a
different religious festival. The Incan calendar was divided into 12
months. Each month was divided into 3 weeks. Each week had 10 days. The
Incas used special towers called "time makers" that told them
when a new month was beginning. Time makers used the position of the sun
to mark the passage of time. Occasionally, time got off track a bit. When
that happened, the Incas simply added a couple of days until the time
makers were in line. This system resulted in a very accurate calendar.
Musical
Instruments: The Incas loved music. They
invented many wind and percussion instruments. Drums and flutes were very
popular. The panpipe was the most popular. A panpipe is a group of single
pipes tied together in a row. Each pipe in the row makes a different
sound, and he pipes are arranged very carefully. Panpipes are still played
in the Andes Mountains today.
Systems
of Measurement/Quipus: Using a base of ten,
the quipus had a main string about two feet long. Many additional colored
strings were tied to the main string. Each string had knots in it. The
color of the strings and the distance between knots all had meaning to the
ancient Incas. The quipus allowed messages to be carried by the Inca
runners from one end of the empire to the other. Some people believe the
Incas could even tell stories with the intricate knots of the quipus. It
took training to read the quipus. Only a few people could write and read
their secret messages. To learn more, click
here: The Incas wrote in string.
Achievements
important to the success of the Inca Empire:
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Communication: (roads, runners)
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Specialized Professions (engineers, metal
workers, stone masons, other artisans)
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Service Tax (huge free labor force)
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Technology (terrace farming, surplus crops,
irrigation systems)
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Strong Central Government (all powerful Inca,
strict laws, basic needs satisfied)
Recap
of Inventions:
Things
they did NOT invent: The wheel, a system of
writing
Inca
Art
The
Quipus
Geometry from the Land
of the Incas Musical
Instruments of the Incas
Return to The
Incredible Incas for Kids
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