The historical relics: The integrating society of the Incas

Alongside architecture and governmental and military organisation, one of the mayor achievements of the Inca society was the solar calendar that was introduced by the Inca Cusi Yupanqui Pachacútec (1438 - 1471). Pachacútec means in Quechua "the person with whom began a new era". He was the emperor who initiated the expansive military campaign of the Incas to extend their kingdom towards a pan-Andean empire (Espinoza; 1997).

Since the pre-Hispanic Andean societies knew no monetary system they cultivated an inter-regional, centrally administered system of redistribution within which maize was accorded a particularly high value. Considering the interconnectedness of political and religious power with the agricul-tural production of these highly valued crops, an inter-regional time system such as the solar chronology is of vital importance. The sun was the only universally observable time indicator within the various eco-levels that make up the complex macro-ecosystem of the Andes. It is supposed that a sequence of grave eco-collapses, followed by the bloody elimina-tion of the Inca ruling elite, led to the implementation of the new chrono-logy. This reorganisation of the state set the violent events in motion that were to lead to the eventual expansion of the Inca Empire from northern Chile to southern Columbia. From this socio-scientific revolution onwards, time was measured throughout the whole Inca Empire by a system of four columns constructed in specific positions according to the area in such a way that the rising sun entered the three interspaces synchronically as the season progressed. Each of the three time intervals corresponded to the sowing period of one of the three main eco-levels of the Cusco region (Earls; 1976).

 

 

Fig. 6: The solar chronology in relation to the three eco-levels of theregion of Cusco (Earls; 1976).

But it is also known that the scientific superiority of the Incas was the result of a long empirical evolution of different systems of calculation that started with the development of a lunar chronology to replace the earlier chronology, which determined the seasons according to biotic indicators such as the growth of specific plants. It is assumed that this change was triggered by a series of collapses of the agricultural system, caused by flawed interpretation of the natural signs by the Inca religious elite. As a direct result of these eco-social catastrophes, the Inca Huiracocha, the father of Pachacútec, was finally able to introduce the lunar chronology alongside the expulsion of the sacerdotals who were responsible for these catastrophes and at the same time expand his own political power. However the new system was based on the sidereal month, a unit of 27.3 days. Hence, a year of twelve sidereal months was 328 days, 0.4 days less than it is exactly. Projecting this error to the solar year of 365.25 days, the time system of Inca Huiracocha resulted in a loss of 0.445 days in each solar cycle. It is supposed that this error of calculation led to other grave ecological catastrophes within about 40 years and hence to enormous socio-political turbulence. At the end of this second revolution, Huiracocha was killed by Pachacútec who installed the sun as the mayor god, Inti (Earls; 1976).

Besides their knowledge of astronomy and its application to the local agriculture, the Incas also had an advanced understanding of complex physical and ecological processes. It is supposed that they knew about the physical effects of terracing in a steep landscape. It has been proven that this system not only retains humidity and prevents the erosion of fertile soil, but also that it improves significantly the local microclimate. As a result the difference in altitude between natural eco-levels is reduced by a factor of 71. In other words, certain agricultural species that may naturally be separated by 70 metres of altitude can be cultivated within one single metre. This facilitated an optimal distribution of agricultural activities and the breeding of a maximum number of genetic species (Earls; 1976).

Fig. 7: System of terraces near Inkiltambo to breed and cultivate different kind of maize.

Another very efficient Inca system to improve the quality of the soil and the microclimate of an eco-system is the construction of small artificial lakes, called Cocha's. They were built particularly in high altitudes for the cultivation of potatoes because they protected the soil from erosion and loss of humidity. It has been proven that they altered the local climate positively by saving the solar heat during the day and reflecting it during the night. In this way, the Incas were capable of stabilising locally a climate which, in high altitudes in particular, is prone to extreme varia-tions of temperature (Espinoza; 1997).

Fig. 8: Cochas of Llulluchayoc Pellorcocha to facilate the cultivation of potatoes in high altitudes.

In summary, although the Incas didn't know the precise scientific bases of their techniques, they knew very well how to influence natural systems for maximum integration and sustainability.

 

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