Form of Writing of Inca {Quipu}

Done by: Megan Choo (7)

Content- introduction to Quipu- how to decipher the Quipu- effects of the Spanish conquest- Cracking the Quipu code- sources- thank you!

Introduction to Quipu- Incas writing system is called quipu (also spelled

khipu/quipo)- only known pre-columbian writing system in South

America- an information transmittal system, not just for Inca- a collection of wool and cotton strings tied together,

not symbols carved on clay tablets or written on paper

- a knotted page of information which could be easily transported and translated across South America

Quipu

How to Decipher Quipu- kept their accounts, genealogy, astronomical calculations and

stories using Quipu

- a complicated system of cords and knots

- information stored using cord colour, cord length, knot type, knot

location and cord twist direction

- cords often plaited in combined colours; sometimes have single

threads of distinctively dyed cotton/wool woven in

How to Decipher Quipu- cords connected mostly from a single horizontal strand, but

subsidiary cords come off the vertical strands in oblique

directions

- only a few hundred quipu left

- much of ability to decipher meaning of knots and colours has

disappeared

- oldest quipu dated to 4600 years ago

Effects of the Spanish Conquest- became known to Europeans in the 16th century, when the Spanish

arrived in South America

- latest in many South American societies to use Quipu

- Inca empire used quipus to communicate a wide variety of political,

economic, genealogical and other information to keep their enormous

empire working

- carried throughout the empire by relay riders, called chasquis, who

brought information along the Inca road system, keeping rulers up to date

with the goings of the empire

Effects on the Spanish Conquest- incalculable loss to global society when Spanish arrived in Cuzco

in 1532

- conquistadors (members of Spanish Inquisition) viewed quipu

with great suspicion and used religious prejudice and superstition

to stamp out what was perceived as dangerous heresy, including

use of quipu

- thousands of quipus were destroyed in 16th century

- now only roughly 300 quipus which were preserved or have been

discovered since that time

Sources- http://archaeology.about.com/od/qterms/qt/quipu.htm

- http://archaeology.about.com/od/americanancientwriting/a/quipu.

htm

- http://google.com.sg