On the coasts of Peru, east of the Amazon, the sacred valley of the Incas was first the home of the monumental Wari. The Inca civilization emerged after the Roman empire. However, the Wari civilization thrived while while the Roman Empire thrived across the Atlantic. These East-Andean powerhouses carved their own indelible chapter in history. They stretched their influence across Peru and parts of Bolivia during the Middle Horizon (600-1000 AD). They achieved feats of engineering and architecture that even surpassed their Roman counterparts.
The Huari people crafted a city called Huari, which dominated the peaks of the eastern Andes. The city showcased pre-medieval urban intelligence. Massive stone walls, a meticulously planned grid, and towering temple pyramids and plazas defined this Pre-Columbian treasure. Their ambition extended to the coasts and highlands of what is now, Southern Peru.
Beyond impressive stonework, the Huari excelled in crafts, producing intricate pottery and textiles. However, their most impactful achievement was constructing a vast trade network. Coca, textiles, precious metals, and even marine shells flowed across great distances. They bound communities and diffused Huari cultural influence.
While it's known that the Inca had a rich tapestry of beliefs, much of what we know about the Huari religion is still shrouded in mystery. They believed that a giant humanoid God, flanked by two serpents gave them the right to rule the world. Other deities related to fertility and warfare also inspired reverence.
Archaeologists and historians still puzzle over why their advanced society declined around 1000 AD. The Egyptian civilization relied on written glyphs. In contrast, the Huari chose to document their history and knowledge through intricate knotted cords, called Khipu. This system offered flexibility and longevity in certain ways. However, deciphering the complex knots and unraveling their secrets has proven challenging for modern researchers. Internal conflicts, environmental shifts, and the rise of competing regional powers are all considered significant factors. However, the precise interplay of these forces remains uncertain. This incomplete information adds to the mystery surrounding this once-powerful civilization. It leaves researchers to piece together their story from archaeological clues and the whispers of preserved Khipu.
The INCA CIVILIZATION
The Inca rose in the early 14th century, surpassing the mighty Wari. They emerged from the windswept highlands of Peru. Pachacuti, their greatest Sapa Inca (emperor), carved a vast network of trade and defense roads called Qhapaq Ñan. It was a 5,000-kilometer web of roads and bridges pulsing with commerce.
Nepotism wasn't their game. The Incas preferred gentle persuasion. They started negotiations with trade. They only resorted to "gentle sieges" when diplomacy faltered. Gold, for the Incas, wasn't just wealth; it was the "sweat of the Sun God," imbued with spiritual power. Yet, their true riches lay in their deep respect for nature and its creatures. This reverence guided their diplomacy in the emerald labyrinth of the Amazon.
Instead of conquering the rainforest, they built bridges – not of stone, but of trust. Open-air altars called Huaca's, woven into the landscape, welcomed all for spiritual gatherings. These sanctuaries became pathways to uncontacted tribes. They revealed treasures beyond gold: knowledge, healing, and the potent tobacco snuff, rapé.
But the Qhapaq Ñan wasn't just a trade route; it was a hidden artery concealing lost cities. Choquequierao is one of those cities. Amazingly, it escaped the Spanish gaze until after the fall of the Inca's. Spanish explorer, Juan Arias Diaz once visited the area in 1710, but excavations have just recently begun in the 1970's.
Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas," stands perched amidst the clouds. It was a celestial calendar and observatory. Its structures mirrored constellations and whispered secrets of the night sky. Its rediscovery in 1911 reignited fascination with the Incas archaeological prowess, mathematical genius, and astronomical wisdom.
Science flourished under the Inca sun. Just a few of their many scientific achievements included: advanced cranial surgeries, knotted string communication systems called khipus, and an intricate understanding of mathematics. Each knot in a khipu, a vibrant symphony of color and code, held records, tributes, and even stories, passed down through generations.
Gold, their sacred metal, adorned their temples and adorned their bodies, a tribute to the Sun God, Inti. The Sapa Inca, considered a living god, led elaborate ceremonies and rituals. His son also participated to maintain cosmic balance and ensure the empire's prosperity. He was the conductor of their intricate orchestra, the embodiment of both earthly power and divine lineage.
The Incas weren't just conquerors; they were diplomats, scientists, healers, and whisperers to the stars. Their story is not just one of gold and empire, but of respect, ingenuity, and a profound connection to the world around them.
THE SPANISH CONQUEST AND DISCOVERY OF HAPEH TOBACCO
The Inca's greatest strength lead to their demise. Rumors of their massive road and bridge network and the masses of gold they've accumulated quickly spread across the waters of the world. Between stories of the land of El Dorado in Columbia and the success of the Inca's empire, the Spanish were envious to conquer the Inca empire and pillage their mineral resources. In the Caribbean, Columbus had already raised the Spanish flag, and now his peers were getting wind of the treasures held west of Spain.
In 1527, Francisco Pizarro, a hungry conquistador, set sail, lured by legends of Inca grandeur and mountains of shimmering gold. He faced a formidable foe. They were elite warriors armed with slings, javelins, and arrows. The hostile land was teeming with disease-carrying mosquitos and lurking predators. Undeterred, Pizarro craved not only gold but also the Amazon's secret remedies. He sought whispers of cures for the deadly tropical fevers.
Five years later, Pizarro returned and cunningly exploited a simmering civil war between Inca brothers. Through manipulation and betrayal, he captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa, and with him, the empire's fate.
Among the Inca's prized possessions, The Spanish discovered hapeh — a potent tobacco snuff that helped the Inca evade the horrible disease of Malaria. Inca texts touted its ability to vanquish malaria and soothe daily headaches. Even more intriguing, traces of its key ingredient, wild tobacco, were found in the tombs of ancient mummies —predating the Inca by millennia.
The Huari's legacy remains etched in stone and pottery and the resonance of their conquests are still found in the knotted cords of the Khipu. In contrast, The Incas left a vibrant tapestry of achievements, sun-kissed cities and starlit observatories. But their story has a tragic finale. It is a cautionary tale. Even the most powerful empires can crumble under ambition and external forces. As we stand amidst the ruins of these great civilizations, their whispers from the past remind us that true wealth lies not just in gold and conquered lands. It lies also in the respect for nature, the pursuit of knowledge, and the strength of interconnected communities.
By learning their history, we can build a future more aligned with the Four Visions of the Columbian tribes. In this future, every person has clean water, pure air, optimal health, freedom to expand their consciousness, and a reverence for the traditions of our ancestors.
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