Essay+-+Rise+of+the+Inca



The Incas were people of South America, living in a highland center, Cuzco. The Inca Empire was isolated by their location on the side of the Andes Mountains. ([]) Their civilization had rules and laws that were constantly being enforced and abided by the entire society. (http://incas.mrdonn.org/quickhistory.html) The Inca government was just and treated all members of the society justly. They made sure that each person had enough food and clothing. (Corrick, 44) They monopolized and cared for their resources and were extremely self-sufficient. They were able to uphold a civilization responsible for millions of people for many centuries. Everyone in the Inca Empire had the same religion and this uniformity prevented any major conflicts.(http://www.infoincaworld.com/society.php) __The Inca’s way of life and their achievements have taught today’s society many lessons.__

One important lesson that the Inca Empire has taught today’s society is that rules and law had to be enforced by the government and followed by the peoples and government alike. (http://incas.mrdonn.org/quickhistory.html) The Sapa Inca provided each family with basic necessities; there was no crime, no one begged and no one lacked in basic life necessities. (Corrick, 44) Inca communities (villages) were called // ayllus, // and each // ayllu // had its own self-supporting farm community that was provided by the // Sapa Inca. // Land was given and or taken away based on whether the family increased or decreased in size. ([]) The Empire relied on the exchange of goods; it had a moneyless economy, and therefore only exchange of crops, animals, and other goods took place. (Corrick, 44) The Inca’s three key fundamentals were known as the Incan moral code; “Do not steal, do not lie, and do not be lazy”. (http://www.nativosite.com/incas.html) The Incan government and society was shaped around these three regulations. A big part of the Inca life was the belief in reincarnation. If a member of the society did not abide by the moral code, they would spend their eternal days in the cold earth, rather than the Sun’s warmth. (http://www.infoincaworld.com/society.php) The laws of today’s society are supposed to treat all people equally. However, due to the huge discrepancies and differences in wealth, religion, ethnicity and education reality is much different. Even though there are organizations such as the United Nations, there are many people all over the world living in poverty and inequality.

The Inca were extremely self-sufficient. They were able to monopolize and take good care of their resources. They grew a variety of crops such as ** sweet potatoes, blue algae, beans, melons, chili peppers, squash, peanuts, tomatoes, avocados etc. Within the empire they had two hundred varieties of potatoes, which were also made in to alcoholic beverages known as **// saraiaka // or // chicha. //// (Hinds,23) // // Llamas, alpacas and vicunas were very important to the Inca and they were raised as a source of wool and dung, which they often used for fuel. On the other hand, guinea pigs, dogs and ducks were the Incas main source of protein. The Empire wasted nothing; every part of the animal was used. They made use of the skin, bones and even the remains of the animals were used as natural fertilizers. ([]) Our society, one the other hand, uses up and wastes a great deal of our natural resources. Natural gas and oil are becoming scarcer and scarcer and, every day, millions of trees are being cut down to, for example, make a soft toilet paper. //

// Religion played an important role in the Inca society. They believed in reincarnation. They believed that to be reincarnated one needed to follow the Incan moral code (do not lie, do not steal, do not be lazy). (http://www.nativosite.com/incas.html) The Inca believed in a good relationship with the gods. They worshiped gods, such as the sun god and the god of the stars and moon. They believed that the //// Sapa Inca //// was a descendant from the sun god, //// Inti. // Huacas were places or objects that were sacred to the Inca. A stone or a temple could be a huaca. It was an object or a place every family had. They used it to make offerings in order to keep the balance between nature and society. The Inca believed in human and animal sacrifices. The sacrifices were offerings to the gods. Animals such as llamas and guinea pigs were sacrificed regularly, however, at a time of need or on sacred occasions, the Inca would sacrifice a human child or a chosen woman. ([]) Generally, religion in today’s society is not as important as it was in the Inca Empire.It is, however, a factor in today’s world politics and shaped the world history. For example conflicts in the Middle East, Afghanistan or Sri Lanka are a result of religious differences.

The Inca Empire has made a considerable impression on today’s world. Their faith, rules, ability to monopolize natural resources and sustain their way of life for many centuries is an example for today’s rulers and countries and history they should refer to in the times of need and questioning.

