From 100 facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu - Fact #7

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
 
7. Much of what we know -- or think we know -- about the Inca society is hazy and often mixes fact with myth.

Since the Incas did not have a written language much of their history was passed down through stories.  When the Spanish arrived in Peru, the earliest documented history of the Incas was prepared by Spanish who told the Inca History from their own perspective.

The earliest account of Inca life is the book Narrative of the Incas by Juan de Betanzos written in the 1550's however only recently fully translated.  Much of Juan de Betanzos account of the Inca life came from his wife Angelina Anas Yupanqui the daughter of Incan King Wayna Capac and who had previously been married to King Atahualpa as well as the man who killed him Francisco Pizzaro. 

From 100 facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu #6

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
 
6. Because the Incas had no written language system (or one that we have yet figured out), the spellings of original words vary widely. Inca, for example, may be spelled Inka, Ygna or Inga.

Many of the cities in Peru have multiple spellings as well frequently the difference is whether to use a "s" or a "z" as seen in both Cusco or Cuzco and Nasca or Nazca.  In each case, both spellings are considered correct.

From the 100 Facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu- Fact #5

By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

5. The Incas, who created incredible architecture and political systems, had no known written system of language, although some scientists suggest khipu may also have served that function.

'According to the anonymous seventeenth-century author of the Quito Manuscript, ancient Andeans once possessed a writing system (qillqa) that they replaced with knotted strings (khipu) as part of the religious and sexual reform of their nation. The manuscript's redactor, Fernando de Montesinos, added to the text his own speculations about Andean writing, which he linked to the Tree of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. For both of these authors, ideas about indigenous "writing" were not neutral, but were intertwined with arguments about the moral and cultural merits of Andean civilization. This essay explores how each author's claims about writing and knotted strings—qillqa and khipu—were intrinsic to their political and theological aims, fitting into a larger discourse about the justification of colonial rule. ^{' -} Sabine Hyland St Norbet College

Many of the Pre-Colombian cultures communicated in art and architechure.  At Chan Chan the Chimu Culture had a detailed calendar of ocean currents.  The calendar indicated which months the currents came from the south and which months from the north for fishing.  The Incas used both a solar and lunar calendar.  In Cusco, authorities maintained a seasonal clock that consisted of a 365 day solar calendar with 12 months each consisting of 30 days.  A twelve month lunar calendar was also kept that consisted of 41 eight day weeks for a total of a 328 day year.  The Incas celebrated the summer and winter solstice each year - the winter solstice celebration can still be witnessed at the festival of Inti Raymi celebrated June 24th each year.

From the 100 Facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu- Fact #4

By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

4. The Inca used khipu (spelled "quipu" in Spanish), a series of knots that functioned as a sort of counting system.

 The Khipu was first used by the Huari people who flourished in the southern and central region of Peru from 500 - 1000 AD.  Many of the Huari practices were later adapted by the Incas and incorporated into their society including the use of the Khipu, terracing the mountain side for agricultural purposes as seen at in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu as well as the use labor as a tribute to the state.

From the 100 Facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu- Fact #3

By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

3. About half the population of Peru is Quechua, a South American Indian group. The group's native tongue is also called Quechua. A dialect of that language was spoken by the Incas.

 Quechua is the second official language of Peru.  It is the pre-Spanish language of the Andes, it was spoken by native people of Peru prior to the Incas, however use of the language was spread to other regions during the time of the Incan Empire.  Today Quechua is spoken in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

The name Machu Picchu in Quechua translates to Machu old man and Pikchu peak and the name Cusco translates to navel as in the center of the world.

From the 100 Facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu- Fact #2

From article By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times Travel editor
 
2. Peru shares borders with five countries: Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia.

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish the Incan Kingdom spanned from northern Chile and Argentina to the South, to Ecuador in the North and encompassed both Peru and Bolivia.

When the Spanish conquered the Incas they established the Vice Royalty of Peru which at its peak administered most of South America (with the exception of the Portuguese expansion of Brazil and part of Colombia).

The vice-royalty required all shipments to pass through the port of Callao to and from overseas markets. As a result the economy in Lima thrived and the population boomed from an estimated 25,000 people in 1619 to 80,000 in 1687.

From the 100 Facts for 100 years of Machu Picchu

From article By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times Travel editor

1. At 496,218 square miles, Peru, in western South America , is about the size of three Californias. California, however, has about 8 million more residents than Peru. 

There are 29.5 million people living in Peru, the majority (9 million) live in the capital of Lima.  Like California Peru is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire that extends from Southern Chile along the west coasts of South, Central and North America and down the east coast of Asia including Japan, the Philippines and New Zea land.