Des fientes d’oiseaux de mer ont fait la richesse de l'empire inca
> Des archéologues de l’université de Sydney révèlent que l'empire inca a prospéré sur le guano. Cette ressource, protégée par des règles strictes pour préserver les colonies d’oiseaux, révèle aujourd’hui une étonnante leçon d’écologie et de durabilité.
#inca #civilisation #guano
Des archéologues de l’université de Sydney révèlent que l'empire inca a prospéré sur le guano. Cette ressource, protégée par des règles strictes pour préserver les colonies d’oiseaux, révèle aujourd’hui une étonnante leçon d’écologie et de durabilité.
"Inca Communism: A Moneyless Empire That Fed Millions But Ruled with an Iron Fist
One of history’s most fascinating experiments in communism was carried out by the Inca Empire, a sprawling civilization across the harsh Andes that thrived without a single coin changing hands.
To modern eyes, the Inca running a completely cashless society might seem like a socialist utopia—almost too ideal or too strange to be true. It’s easy to retroactively label it 'Inca communism.' Yet the reality was far more complex than 20th-century political theories suggest. The state ensured that no one went hungry and that everyone had shelter, but this wasn’t a grassroots workers’ revolution. It was a fiercely rigid, theocratic system that controlled people’s lives from birth to death.
(. . .)
Families never received formal deeds. Instead, they were granted the right to work a specific plot, sized according to the number of mouths they needed to feed—an arrangement resembling communism in principle. Yet in reality, the system emphasized collective stewardship rather than outright ownership, tightly controlled by a paternalistic government. While it echoed certain socialist ideals, the primary goal was to reinforce the emperor’s absolute power. Even today, echoes of this system remain. Communal land rights continue to shape indigenous politics and identity in Peru and Bolivia.
(. . .)
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Inca’s proto-communist system was how they managed millions of people without currency. Everyday citizens exchanged basic goods at local gatherings called 'katus,' while the state maintained a strict monopoly over luxury items and long-distance trade.
Consider gold and silver. When the Spanish arrived, they ravaged the continent in pursuit of these metals, yet for the Inca, precious metals held no economic value. They were simply the 'sweat of the sun' and 'tears of the moon,' used only to embellish temples and signal the status of the elite. By removing the profit motive entirely, the Inca effectively prevented the rise of a wealthy merchant class that could challenge imperial authority.
(. . .)
But it was not a one-sided arrangement. In return for this grueling work, the state operated a vast welfare system. Giant stone silos, called qullqas, were scattered across the empire, stocked with freeze-dried potatoes, corn, and other staples. If drought struck, or if someone became too old or ill to work, the state ensured they were fed.
It was a strict social contract. People gave the state total obedience and backbreaking labor, and in exchange, the state guaranteed survival. That mindset—“all for the state”—did not disappear with the empire’s fall. It left a lasting mark on South American culture, where the expectation of a strong, protective government continues to influence politics and society.
Ultimately, Tahuantinsuyu (the Inca Empire) was not an egalitarian paradise or a fully realized communist society. It was a meticulously organized command economy, one that prioritized collective survival over individual freedom.
Standing among the sun-baked ruins of Machu Picchu, it’s striking to consider: today, we have unprecedented technology, yet poverty and inequality persist. The Inca managed to provide for everyone without relying on capitalism. Perhaps the greatest lesson from the Andes is that while perfect equality may be impossible, eliminating poverty is largely a matter of political will and administrative capability."
2001 Audiovox: Revolutionary Mobile Tech You'll Want!
This 2001 Audiovox ad showcases the ultimate in portable entertainment and mobile communication! From internet-ready cell phones to a state-of-the-art portable DVD player and even in-car video for your SUV, everything you needed for the digital age was right here. Get ready for seamless connectivity and on-the-go fun. 📱✨
#audiovox #2001tech #2000s #early2000s #revolutionarymobiletech #mobilevideo #portabledvd #digitalphone #webbrowser #inca
ATTENTION: New podcast episode!
Transcript:
Contarhuacho was a curaca, a local leader, also called a cacique. She was of great importance and was a secondary wife of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac. No information about her mother is known, but her father, Pomapacha, was the curaca of Hanan Huaylas.
Head to pod.link/1852510962
Contarhuacho also features in my book Intrepid Dudettes of the Inca Empire.
#inca #womenshistorymonth #incaempire #southamerica #peru #huaylas
Un any més, l’Ajuntament d’Inca commemora el 8 de març, Dia Internacional de la Dona, amb un ampli programa d’activitats que s’estendrà del 4 al 27 de març i que es clourà amb una darrera proposta el 30 de maig. En total, s’han organitzat més de quinze iniciatives amb l’objectiu de reivindicar la igualtat real i efectiva entre dones i homes i de continuar avançant en la lluita contra qualsevol forma de discriminació.
Did Guano Make The Inca The World’s First Conservationists?
"The Inca recognized the importance of guano and the islands where the so-called guano birds breed as central to the survival of their civilization — and they responded by implementing the first ever conservation effort"
#Inca #birds #Guano #conservation https://medium.com/grrlscientist/did-guano-make-the-inca-the-worlds-first-conservationists-4676f4b01591
Nikolas Kozloff
Scaalp 🌳
🇨🇵🇪🇺🕊🇵🇸🇺🇦🇸🇴
Ars Technica News
Levka
dBalears (Unofficial RSS)
Blast From the Ads!
Helen Pugh
GrrlScientist ⧖ Ⓥ SciComm 🇺🇦