5612ft+Ancient+Civilization+Report

Ancient Incan Civiliztaion: Is it Just Architecture?

Francesca Tannenbaum

Reading and Language Arts 5/6 Keith Schoch June 7

When you think of fashion, do you imagine the modern, sparkly dresses on the red carpet? Or ancient fashion? One thing you probably don’t think of is Incan fashion. The word Inca means ruler, or man of royal lineage ([|http://www.wordnik.com/words/Inca]). The Incas lived in Peru, or Tavantinsuyu, as they called it. Tavantinsuyu meant “four corners of the world". Peru was divided into four parts and the capital city, Cuzco, was linked to all the parts, because it was in the middle. Peru is located in South America near Brazil and the Equator (Holzmann 5 and 7). The ancient Incas were around from 1100 AD until the empire fell apart in 1533 AD. The Incas were remembered by their engineering, stone building techniques, and their system of roads.

There’s more to the ancient Incas than just architecture and engineering, The Incas had unique clothing, which many people don’t realize. Incan fashion is just as important as the architecture and engineering. Statuses of people in a society were secretly hidden, but revealed in their clothing (http://tinyurl.com/d6zaea7). By observing the fashion of men, women, and accessories, we can be more knowledgeable of how the Incas lived.

Generally, Incan men wore a sleeveless tunic made of a broad piece of doubled cloth and sewn together along the edges. Sandals made from untanned llama hide were also worn, likehow we wear sneakers or flip-flops in the summer. Except the Incas wore them all year round, not just for one season. There were also other sandals made from material such as braided fiber worn. A long, large cloak, which completed the outfit, was worn over the men’s shoulders with two corners that tied in the front. A man who would want to carry amulets, small personal effects, or coca leaves would carry a small bag (http://tinyurl.com/cgwfze3).

Many women in the ancient Incan civilization often wore a one-piece dress, which combined a skirt and blouse. The dress reached the woman’s ankles and was bound, or held, together at the woman’s waist by an ornamental or decorative sash. The dress also reached the woman’s neck and the upper edges fastened over their shoulders by a long pin, sometimes shaped like an animal or human. The pins were made from gold, silver, and copper, and had large ends, which were generally had a round end. These pins were known as astopo. The dress passed under the arms at the sides (http://tinyurl.com/d6zaea7).

Incas used different kinds of paint for their faces and bodies. As an accessory, many people in the ancient Incan civilization used face paint. When the Incas were in war, they put war paint on their face. If the Incas were in mourning, they wore black paint. For a special celebration, occasion, or ceremony, Incas painted their face red and purple, or just used face painting. Specific information wasn't yet found about body decoration through paint. Researchers have found records saying tattooing was practiced on the coast of Peru, but is still not discovered whether or not tattooing was also practiced in the highlands, or the Alps, of Peru (http://tinyurl.com/d6zaea7[|)].

The Inca empire ended when the emperor, Huayna Qapaq, died before he choose a successor in 1567. A successor is someone who takes over for someone else when they pass. Two of Huayna Qapaq’s sons fought for the power, so each son took one part of Peru, either North or South. The two brothers started a civil war, weakening the empire. The Spaniards took over easily because of how weak the empire was. (Holzmann 3-4) The ancient Incas had a 10,000-troop standing army. We still use a standing army today, even in the United States. The Incas taught us good things can be learned from good examples and good things can also be learned from bad examples. For example, if you see someone make a mistake, you know not to make that same mistake again. Or if you see someone do a good thing, you’ll think to yourself, “I want to do that!” The Incas taught was worked and what didn’t. (Holzmann 15)

Glossary **astopo**: pins worn on the woman’s clothes made from copper, silver, or gold. **Inca**: ruler, or man of royal lineage **Tavantinsuyu**: what the ancient Incas called Peru

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Works Cited

Holzmann, John. Incans, Aztecs & Mayans: A Study. Littleton, CO: Sonlight Curriculum, 2001.

"Inca Civilization...Greatest Empire in Pre-Columbian America." INCA CIVILIZATION. 04 June 2012. .

"Inca Clothing : A Brief on Ancient Inca Clothing." Inca Clothing : A Brief on Ancient Inca Clothing. 15 May 2012. .

"Inca." Wordnik.com. 30 May 2012. .