The population was divided into multiples of ten taxpayers (10, 100, 1000, 10,000, etc). It is conjectured in the text that the Inca may have had more accurate cencus than exists in modern times. This was one of many pieces of information that was recorded on a unique communication, recording device, the knotted string quipu. Taxes (mit'a) were owed in goods and labor, especially in textiles, food, and constuction of roads, waystations, and centers throughout Tawantinsuyo. Mit'a laborers often had to travel long distances to reach their worksites and were supported for the duration of the project. Subjects also recieved corn beer, redistributed food from other vertical zones (particularly during times of hardship) and generalized state assistance. Thus reciprocity, verticality, and nomadism- time-honored Andean survival strategies- were employed by the Incas on a new global scale and taken to extremes for politcal purposes.
Through knot type and position, cord color and placement the Incas could encode inredible amounts of information from the census to astronomy and even history and poetry. Their mathematical system was virtually identical to our own.
Quechua were the accountants who created and read the quipu knots. Quechua were capable of performing simple mathematics, basic arithmetic. They kept track of the taxation system, the type of labor performed and ran a census.

Tags: fibers, inca, pre-columbian, quipu, recording
Current Location: The Mesa
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: "Noose" ~ A Perfect Circle

Highland Maya (Classic Period)

Lintel 25 is from late Classical Art located in the ruins of the ancient Mayan city Yaxchilan, in Chipas state, Mexico.
Lady Xoc is kneeling and recieving a vision of a warrior emerging from the mouth of a serpent. High relief is used and the figures are framed by glyphs.

Tags: lady xoc, mayan, pre-columbian
Current Location: The Mesa
Current Mood: working
Current Music: "Garbage