Question
ANALYZE THE SOURCE
VOCABULARY
quipu: the Inca system of
counting by placing knots on
lengths of rope or colored
thread
Cuzco: a city situated in the
Andean mountains of modern
Peru that served as the center
of the Inca Empire
fraud: deception
deceit: dishonesty
extent: size
allies: individuals associated
by a common goal or purpose
provisions: supplies of food
and resources
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What makes a culture
unique?
“[I]n the time of the Kings Incas, orders were given
through all the towns and provinces of Peru, that the
principal lords and their lieutenants should take note,
each year, of the men and women who had died, and
also of the births. For as well for the assessment of
tribute, as for calculating the number of men that could
be called upon to serve as soldiers, and for the defence
of the villages such information was needed. This was
easily done, because each province, at the end of the
year, was ordered to set down in the quipus, by means
of the knots, all the men who had died in it during the
year, as well as all who were born. In the beginning of
the following year, the quipus were taken to Cuzco,
where an account was made of the births and deaths
throughout the empire. These returns were prepared
with great care and accuracy, and without any fraud or
deceit. When the returns had been made up, the lord
and his officers knew what people were poor, the
number of widows, whether they were able to pay
tribute, how many men could be taken for soldiers and
many other facts which were considered, among these
people, to be of great importance. As this empire was of
PRIMARY SOURCE: FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt and answer the
accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Pedro de Cieza de Léon was a Spanish
conquistador who interviewed native people in the Andean region of
what is now Peru. This excerpt gives us a view into the Inca system of
record keeping and governance.
CHAPTER 7 • LESSON 2
1 CITE TEXT EVIDENCE What was the
purpose of collecting information about the
total number of births and deaths in each
province and region?
A Conqueror’s View of the Inca
176 It’s All Online!
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education;
such vast extent, . . . there were a great number of
storehouses for provisions and other necessaries for a
campaign, and for the equipment of soldiers, if there
was a war these great resources were used where the
camps were formed, without touching the supplies of
allies, or drawing upon the stores of different villages. If
there was no war, all the great store of provisions was
divided amongst the poor and the widows.
”
—Pedro de Cieza de Léon, The Second Part of the
Chronicle of Peru, 1540
2 DETERMINING MEANING Examine how
excess provisions were used by the Inca.
How is the distribution of this resource
important to understanding their culture?
3 CITING TEXT EVIDENCE Which passage
from Pedro de Cieza de Léon’s account
describes the Inca Empire as relying on a
strong, central government? Underline the
words he used.
4 How does Pedro de Cieza de
Léon’s point of view affect the way that he
describes the Inca system?
Chapter
VOCABULARY
quipu: the Inca system of
counting by placing knots on
lengths of rope or colored
thread
Cuzco: a city situated in the
Andean mountains of modern
Peru that served as the center
of the Inca Empire
fraud: deception
deceit: dishonesty
extent: size
allies: individuals associated
by a common goal or purpose
provisions: supplies of food
and resources
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What makes a culture
unique?
“[I]n the time of the Kings Incas, orders were given
through all the towns and provinces of Peru, that the
principal lords and their lieutenants should take note,
each year, of the men and women who had died, and
also of the births. For as well for the assessment of
tribute, as for calculating the number of men that could
be called upon to serve as soldiers, and for the defence
of the villages such information was needed. This was
easily done, because each province, at the end of the
year, was ordered to set down in the quipus, by means
of the knots, all the men who had died in it during the
year, as well as all who were born. In the beginning of
the following year, the quipus were taken to Cuzco,
where an account was made of the births and deaths
throughout the empire. These returns were prepared
with great care and accuracy, and without any fraud or
deceit. When the returns had been made up, the lord
and his officers knew what people were poor, the
number of widows, whether they were able to pay
tribute, how many men could be taken for soldiers and
many other facts which were considered, among these
people, to be of great importance. As this empire was of
PRIMARY SOURCE: FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt and answer the
accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Pedro de Cieza de Léon was a Spanish
conquistador who interviewed native people in the Andean region of
what is now Peru. This excerpt gives us a view into the Inca system of
record keeping and governance.
CHAPTER 7 • LESSON 2
1 CITE TEXT EVIDENCE What was the
purpose of collecting information about the
total number of births and deaths in each
province and region?
A Conqueror’s View of the Inca
176 It’s All Online!
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education;
such vast extent, . . . there were a great number of
storehouses for provisions and other necessaries for a
campaign, and for the equipment of soldiers, if there
was a war these great resources were used where the
camps were formed, without touching the supplies of
allies, or drawing upon the stores of different villages. If
there was no war, all the great store of provisions was
divided amongst the poor and the widows.
”
—Pedro de Cieza de Léon, The Second Part of the
Chronicle of Peru, 1540
2 DETERMINING MEANING Examine how
excess provisions were used by the Inca.
How is the distribution of this resource
important to understanding their culture?
3 CITING TEXT EVIDENCE Which passage
from Pedro de Cieza de Léon’s account
describes the Inca Empire as relying on a
strong, central government? Underline the
words he used.
4 How does Pedro de Cieza de
Léon’s point of view affect the way that he
describes the Inca system?
Chapter
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
This excerpt from Pedro de Cieza de Léon’s "The Second Part of the Chronicle of Peru" provides a valuable first-hand perspective on the structure and operations of the Inca Empire. Let's break down the questions to analyze the source effectively.
### 1. Cite Text Evidence
**Purpose of Collecting Information:**
The primary purpose of collecting data on births and deaths in each province was to understand the demographic makeup of the Empire for various administrative and military needs. The text states that this information was essential "*for the assessment of tribute, as for calculating the number of men that could be called upon to serve as soldiers, and for the defence of the villages.*" Therefore, the records helped officials know the population, assess their capacity to pay taxes, and organize military forces when needed.
### 2. Determining Meaning
**Use of Excess Provisions:**
The Inca utilized excess provisions to address societal needs through systematic redistribution. The passage notes that provisions were stored and used in times of war to equip soldiers, and if no conflict arose, the surplus was distributed among the poor and widows. This practice reveals a culture that values communal support and social responsibility, highlighting their commitment to the welfare of their citizens. The distribution of resources reflects not just an economic system but also an ethical framework that prioritizes care for the vulnerable within their society.
### 3. Citing Text Evidence
**Description of Strong Central Government:**
In the passage, evidence of the Inca Empire being anchored by a strong central government can be found in phrases like "*orders were given through all the towns and provinces*," "*the quipus were taken to Cuzco,*" and "*an account was made of the births and deaths throughout the empire.*" These statements underline the centralization of authority and the organized bureaucracy that managed the logistics and governance of the vast Empire effectively.
### 4. Point of View of Pedro de Cieza de Léon
**Impact on Description of the Inca System:**
Pedro de Cieza de Léon's perspective, being a Spanish conquistador, influences how he describes the Inca system. His observations can be seen as a combination of admiration and critique; he acknowledges the administrative sophistication of the Inca while potentially viewing it through a Eurocentric lens that may imply superiority of European governance. His role as a conquistador also shapes his framing of the Incas as a notable yet imperial target, perhaps seeking to convey their strengths while justifying conquest by emphasizing the need for 'civilization' in the Americas.
### Conclusion
Cieza de Léon’s account provides insight into the Inca Empire’s governance structures, social responsibilities, and record-keeping systems, which paint a picture of a unique culture marked by strong organizational capabilities and social considerations. These elements help answer the essential question of what makes a culture unique by illustrating the Inca's sophisticated administrative practices and communal values.
### 1. Cite Text Evidence
**Purpose of Collecting Information:**
The primary purpose of collecting data on births and deaths in each province was to understand the demographic makeup of the Empire for various administrative and military needs. The text states that this information was essential "*for the assessment of tribute, as for calculating the number of men that could be called upon to serve as soldiers, and for the defence of the villages.*" Therefore, the records helped officials know the population, assess their capacity to pay taxes, and organize military forces when needed.
### 2. Determining Meaning
**Use of Excess Provisions:**
The Inca utilized excess provisions to address societal needs through systematic redistribution. The passage notes that provisions were stored and used in times of war to equip soldiers, and if no conflict arose, the surplus was distributed among the poor and widows. This practice reveals a culture that values communal support and social responsibility, highlighting their commitment to the welfare of their citizens. The distribution of resources reflects not just an economic system but also an ethical framework that prioritizes care for the vulnerable within their society.
### 3. Citing Text Evidence
**Description of Strong Central Government:**
In the passage, evidence of the Inca Empire being anchored by a strong central government can be found in phrases like "*orders were given through all the towns and provinces*," "*the quipus were taken to Cuzco,*" and "*an account was made of the births and deaths throughout the empire.*" These statements underline the centralization of authority and the organized bureaucracy that managed the logistics and governance of the vast Empire effectively.
### 4. Point of View of Pedro de Cieza de Léon
**Impact on Description of the Inca System:**
Pedro de Cieza de Léon's perspective, being a Spanish conquistador, influences how he describes the Inca system. His observations can be seen as a combination of admiration and critique; he acknowledges the administrative sophistication of the Inca while potentially viewing it through a Eurocentric lens that may imply superiority of European governance. His role as a conquistador also shapes his framing of the Incas as a notable yet imperial target, perhaps seeking to convey their strengths while justifying conquest by emphasizing the need for 'civilization' in the Americas.
### Conclusion
Cieza de Léon’s account provides insight into the Inca Empire’s governance structures, social responsibilities, and record-keeping systems, which paint a picture of a unique culture marked by strong organizational capabilities and social considerations. These elements help answer the essential question of what makes a culture unique by illustrating the Inca's sophisticated administrative practices and communal values.