Research Essay: Similarities of Inca and Roman Civilizations
... systems, when it comes to religion, civil authority and military. First off the religion of the Romans was also based on ceremonies, festivals, sacrifices and worship of their gods. The Roman head god was Jupiter, but his role was a bit different then that of the Incas head gods role. “Jupiter, (is the) father of the gods and the chief deity of the pagan Roman state.” (Nishi, pg. 254). But the Romans just like the Incas worshipped all different kinds of gods representing everything from the moon to war and to weather. The Romans has “a common means of honoring gods and placating them or seeking their help in times of crisis was sacrifice of animals.” (Q-R volume 16). The Inca’s might have sacrificed a “Llama, lamb or a guinea pig” but the Romans sacrificed a pig, a sheep or an ox. The Romans were all very intolerable when it came to criminal behaviour. But unlike the Incas they had the twelve Tables that were all of the Roman laws written out. Though they still of the same principal being that the punishment fitted the crime. The worst crimes were similar to the Incas, being “found guilty of giving a false witness, murder” (Nishi, pg.48) and more were the worst and all were punishable by death. But for both Incan’s and Roman’s some of the punishments were quite harsh. The Roman military was know for winning numerous battles and was feared by most of their enemies. Just like the Incas they were know for there military strategy, the Romans had a similar strategy of surprising and surrounding there enemies. Though the Romans weren’t as successful as the Incas. There numerous gods, sacrifices, crime/punishment, and military strategies are just some of the similarities between the Romans and the Incas in organized systems proving that the Incas aren’t as unique in this category then people might think. Developed Technology played a big part in making the lives of the Incas easier especially through technological progress of math, technologic process of water transportation and technological progress of science (astrology). They “developed a number system using knotted strings, called a quipu”. (Incas, par.8). The way that the Incas used it by having different colored strings and tying different knots, the Incas were capable of making simple calculations. They also used it to keep “accurate records of troops, supplies, population data, and agricultural inventories.” (Incas, par.7). One of the most amazing aspects of he Incan civilization are it’s amazing aqueducts, which made it easier for them to get access to water. They also developed irrigation in certain areas creating “massive networks of canals, which allowed farmers to grow crops in areas where little rain fell.” (Nishi, pg.17). The Incas also studies the stars and planets in which they were able to “develop a remarkably accurate calendar” (Incas, par.13). ‘They planned religious festivals and the planting and the harvesting of crops according to this calendar.” (Incas, par. 13). When the Incas were studying the stars and planets, they came up with a few theories that the earth was rotating and that the stars were actually really far away. Every civilization relies on developed technology to make their lives easier, this most definitely includes the Incas whose work with math, aqueducts and astronomy, was quite impressive. The Romans, just like the Incas developed technological process of math, technologic process of water transportation and technological progress of science (astrology). Like the Incas the Romans developed a number system, Roman numerals. Which “are symbols that stand for numbers. All Roman numerals are written using seven basic symbols, either alone or in combination.” (Q-R volume 16, pg.417). The Romans found it easier to add and subtract using the Roman numerals just like the Incas found it easier to make simple calculations using the quipu. Now “the most spectacular and impressive remains attesting to Roman (and Inca) ingenuity are the aqueducts. They can be found everywhere in the Roman world.” (Q-R volume 16). The provision of clean water is one of the most basic needs of any society and both Romans and Incans to fill this need by building aqueducts. Just like the Incas the Romans also had a fascination with the stars and planets, creating their own calendar based on it. Seasons were then incorporated into their calendar to determine the best time for harvesting their crops. A Roman astronomer developed “a system of astronomy that was accepted for nearly 1,500 years” (Q-R volume16). When it came to developed technologies the Romans just like the Incas developed a number system, had aqueducts and made breakthroughs in astrology, where some similarities most definitely arose. The Incas developed a complex social structure in division of labor, division of power and gender roles. When it came to actually doing work even though “commoners hold the lowest positions in Inca society, the power of the empire came from their labor”(Nishi, pg.41). The empire and the nobility did little work, while the commoners and slaves did it all. The men were farmers, and craftsmen but “at any time, the commoner could be summoned to fight in the army; help build bridges, roads and canals, or farm the lands of imperial officials”(Nishi, pg.42). Women and children also helped the men in their daily chores, and the women also sewed, prepared meals and took care of the household. The emperor “was the head of the government, created laws, power over land, appointed the highest officials in the empire and was head of the army” (I volume 10, pg.45). In short the Emperor had the most power out o...