Posted by: Charlotte in American History, History Blog, Latin American History, Medieval History, Precolumbian History, Religious History, The Incas, World History
While every aspect of the taxpayers’ life was inspected by the elite classes, they were often allowed relative freedom in religious worship, as long as they complied with the demands put on them by the religious leaders, such as paying tribute. More often than not, the Incas themselves accepted the Provinces’ gods, or superimposed their gods onto the local pantheon. In this way, the integration of new peoples was smoother and more widely accepted. Religion was therefore, not primarily concerned with the spiritual life of individuals, rather, it was organized to gain more practical result which reflected the reality of Inca power. An example of this is the idea of the Emperor ruling with divine right as he was considered to be a descendant of the Sun god. His connection to the gods gave him more power over the people as he controlled not only their secular lives but also their religious lives.
On an individual level, it was important to maintain a positive relationship with the gods to ensure the nature of all forces acting on the environment remained profitable. This was especially important considering the high necessity of successful food crops which everyone depended on for survival. The Sun god, which traditionally headed the deities, was studied by astronomer who constructed a twelve month calendar which was linked around the agricultural practice. The Scared Valley contained two streams which were believed to be the center of the
[[continue reading...]]
Recent History Articles
|
Mummy Powder and the Household Use of the Egyptian Dead |
 Beginning in the 12th century, Arab physicians began to prescribe their patients a most unorthodox remedy: the ground remains of mummies procured from Egyptian tombs.
As Islamic Arabs of the day did not regard the ancient Egyptians as ancestors, the practice was widely accepted and so-called mummy powder was in sold in a variety of strengths. Powder procured from the crude[...]
|
|
|
Annie Oakley: American Woman and Marksman |
 Annie Oakley died on November 3, 1924 from pernicious anemia. Her life is a testament to the strength and determination of American frontierswomen. Skilled with weapons and equal to many of her male counterparts, Annie Oakley remains an integral part of western history.
Born in Ohio on August 13, 1860, Annie’s given name was Phoebe Ann Oakley Mozee. She had a total of seve[...]
|
|
|
The Inca Empire - Part II The Army |
 Like other aspects of government and social organization, the military defense of the Inca Empire was well ordered and highly planned. The majority of evidence of warfare comes from the archaeological record which shows the high level of preparation.
While the Inca capital city itself, Cuzco, was not surrounded by walls or fortified defenses there were fortresses built near[...]
|
|
|
The Inca Empire - Part I Administration |
 The Inca empire reached its peak in the 1500s, after emerging in under a century. From 1470 they ruled from their capital Cuzco, a vast area that reached the practicable limits of its expansion with the Amazonian rainforest to the east and the Andes to the south.
The empire was highly organized, divided into geographical, social and hierarchical groups. The empire, Taluantin[...]
|
|
| |
