Dan Snow's History Hit 2. Machu Picchu: The Rise of the Inca Empire
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Mar 5, 2024 Discover the rise of the mighty Inca Empire in South America, with ingenious food growth methods, non-violent tribe integration, and no written language. Dan Snow explores Peru's Sacred Valleys and Machu Picchu with expert guests, uncovering the secrets of this ancient civilization.
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Bingham's Machu Picchu Discovery
- Hiram Bingham, exploring in 1911, climbed steep paths to discover Machu Picchu unexpectedly.
- His discovery revealed fine Inka stonework hidden under dense jungle growth, a breathtaking finding.
Inca Communication Without Writing
- The Inca thrived without written language, money, or horses by using quipus for numerical record-keeping.
- Quipus stored census and resource data, but the Spanish destroyed most of them to disrupt Inca communication.
Inca Hierarchical Society
- The Inca society was strictly hierarchical with the Sapa Inka at the top, nobles, community leaders, workers, and enslaved people.
- Social roles were clearly defined, reflecting order and control across the vast empire.