Investigate how the Chimu influenced the Inca

Question

The Chimu worshipped the creator god Viracocha.
The Chimu created posts called tampus to deliver objects.
The Chimu created the quipu to record information.
The Chimu built roads and created a messenger system using runners.

Answer 1

The Chimu civilization, which thrived along the northern coast of Peru from 900 to 1470 CE, had a significant influence on the Inca empire. The Inca, a later civilization that dominated the Andean region from 1438 to 1533 CE, inherited and built upon many aspects of Chimu culture and technology.

Religion:
One of the most notable contributions of the Chimu to the Inca was their religious beliefs. The Chimu worshipped Viracocha, the creator god, and believed that he created the world and all living beings. The Inca incorporated Viracocha into their own pantheon of gods, although they later elevated their own rulers to divine status. This religious influence can be seen in the religious practices and ceremonies of the Inca, which were heavily influenced by Chimu rituals.

Communication:
The Chimu developed an efficient communication system using posts called tampus. These posts were used to deliver messages and objects over long distances. The Inca, recognizing the value of such a network, adopted and expanded upon this system. They created a vast network of roads that stretched across their empire, facilitating communication, trade, and the movement of troops. These roads were punctuated by tambos, which served as rest stops and relay stations for long-distance runners who carried messages and maintained communication throughout the empire.

Record-keeping:
The Chimu are credited with the invention of the quipu, a system of knotted strings used to record and store information. Quipus were used for various purposes, including record-keeping, accounting, and even storytelling. The Inca recognized the effectiveness of this system and adopted it for their own use. Quipus became an integral part of the Inca administrative system, used to keep inventories, record tribute obligations, and maintain important records within the empire.

Infrastructure:
The Chimu were renowned for their impressive engineering feats, including the construction of extensive road networks, canals, and large adobe structures. The Inca, who were also skilled engineers, inherited and expanded upon these achievements. They used Chimu road systems as a foundation for their own, expanding them to connect their vast empire. The Inca also borrowed Chimu architectural techniques, such as the use of large adobe bricks, to construct their own monumental structures, including the famous Machu Picchu.

In conclusion, the Chimu had a significant influence on the Inca in various aspects of their civilization. The Inca adopted Chimu religious beliefs, incorporated and expanded upon their communication and record-keeping systems, and utilized Chimu infrastructure and architectural techniques. This cultural exchange and integration between the Chimu and the Inca played a crucial role in shaping the Inca empire and its cultural practices.