Who were the Chasquis and what did they do?
The chasquis (also chaskis) were the messengers of the Inca empire. Agile, highly trained and physically fit, they were in charge of carrying the quipus, messages and gifts, up to 240 km per day through the chasquis relay system.
What was the job of the Chasquis?
What is a chaski? Chaskis were short-distance relay runners who delivered official messages and sometimes small parcels throughout the empire. Young men, especially those with superior running skills, were chosen for this occupation.
What did the chasqui wear?
Each runner would run for between six and nine miles until they reached a chaskiwasi (quite literally ‘chaski house’) from where the next chaski would continue the relay. The chaskis wore sandals made from woven plant fibers and braided woolen cord and carried a small personal bag.
Why did Machu Picchu survive the Spanish conquest?
Generally, all historians agree when said that Machu Picchu was used as housing for the Inca aristocracy after the Spanish conquest of in 1532. It was an important agricultural center, away from the main roads. Still, Machu Picchu remains the great unknown, reason why was not destroyed by the ancient conquerors.
Who were the Quipucamayoc?
Quipucamayocs were from a class of people, “males, fifty to sixty”, and were not the only members of Inca society to use the quipu. Inca historians used the quipu when telling the Spanish about Tahuantinsuyu history (whether they only recorded important numbers or actually contained the story itself is unknown).
What did the Inca use for money?
The Incas might not have used money, but they did keep track of numbers. They used a quipu, which was a system using colored strings made of llama wool to record taxes as well as the population of people and animals.
What race are Quechua?
Quechua, Quechua Runa, South American Indians living in the Andean highlands from Ecuador to Bolivia. They speak many regional varieties of Quechua, which was the language of the Inca empire (though it predates the Inca) and which later became the lingua franca of the Spanish and Indians throughout the Andes.
Did the Incas have horses?
The Incas were not allowed to ride horses for centuries after the Spanish occupation began. When Native peoples acquired horses in Chile, Argentina, and the U.S. Great Plains, for example, they quickly became superior riders and used their horses to fight off the European invaders for years.
