Quipu

Definition

A quipu is an ancient Andean recording device made up of knotted strings used to keep track of information and data. It was an important tool used by the Inca Empire and other pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas to record and communicate various types of information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Quipus were used to record a wide range of information, including census data, tax records, calendars, and even narratives and historical accounts.
2. The strings of a quipu were typically made of cotton or camelid fiber, with knots tied in different ways to represent numerical values and other information.
3. The structure and organization of a quipu, including the placement and types of knots, the color of the strings, and the overall configuration, were all significant and carried meaning.
4. Quipus were often used in conjunction with other Inca administrative and record-keeping practices, such as the use of specialized quipu-keepers known as quipucamayocs.
5. The exact meaning and interpretation of many quipus remains a mystery, as the Inca did not have a written language, and the knowledge of how to read and interpret quipus was largely lost after the Spanish conquest.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and significance of quipus in the Inca Empire.
  • Quipus were an essential administrative and record-keeping tool used by the Inca Empire. They were used to record a wide range of information, including census data, tax records, calendars, and even narratives and historical accounts. The structure and organization of a quipu, including the placement and types of knots, the color of the strings, and the overall configuration, were all significant and carried meaning. Quipus were often used in conjunction with other Inca administrative and record-keeping practices, such as the use of specialized quipu-keepers known as quipucamayocs. The importance of quipus in the Inca Empire highlights the sophisticated level of organization and record-keeping that existed in pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas.
• Analyze the relationship between the Inca Empire's decimal system and the structure of quipus.
  • The Inca Empire utilized a base-10 decimal system, which was reflected in the structure and organization of the quipus. The placement and types of knots on the strings of a quipu were used to represent numerical values and other information. The decimal system allowed the Inca to organize and record data in a systematic and efficient manner, with the quipus serving as a physical representation of this numerical system. The connection between the Inca's decimal system and the structure of quipus highlights the advanced mathematical and record-keeping capabilities of this pre-Columbian civilization, which were essential for the administration and management of the vast Inca Empire.
• Evaluate the impact of the Spanish conquest on the preservation and interpretation of quipus.
  • The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire had a significant impact on the preservation and interpretation of quipus. The Inca did not have a written language, and the knowledge of how to read and interpret quipus was largely lost after the Spanish conquest. Many quipus were destroyed or lost, and the specialized quipu-keepers known as quipucamayocs were no longer able to pass down their knowledge. As a result, the exact meaning and interpretation of many quipus remains a mystery to this day. The loss of this important record-keeping system has made it challenging for modern scholars to fully understand the Inca Empire and its administrative practices. The impact of the Spanish conquest on the preservation and interpretation of quipus highlights the importance of preserving and studying the cultural heritage of indigenous civilizations, as the loss of such knowledge can have lasting consequences.

Related terms

Khipu: Another term used to refer to the Andean recording device made of knotted strings, also known as a quipu.

Inca Empire: The largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas, which utilized quipus extensively to record and communicate information.

Decimal System: The base-10 numerical system used by the Inca Empire, which was reflected in the structure and organization of the quipu.