Exam 20: Native Americas and Oceania

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Staff god (Tangaroa?)

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Cuzco, also spelled Cusco or Qosqo, was the capital city of the Inca Empire, which flourished in the Andean region of South America from the 13th to the 16th century. The surviving descriptions of Cuzco, primarily from Spanish chroniclers and historians who wrote after the Spanish conquest, as well as from archaeological evidence, provide insights into the organization of this important city.

1. **Urban Layout**: Cuzco was designed in the shape of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca cosmology, with the fortress of Sacsayhuamán representing the head. The city was divided into two sections, Hanan Cuzco (Upper Cuzco) and Hurin Cuzco (Lower Cuzco), which were further divided into quarters for administrative purposes. This division also had a cosmological significance, reflecting the dual organization of the Inca society and their world view.

2. **Political Center**: As the capital of the empire, Cuzco was the political heart. It was the residence of the Sapa Inca, the emperor, and the location of important administrative buildings. The city was the hub from which the Inca state was governed, and it was where the central bureaucracy managed affairs that spanned the vast empire.

3. **Religious Significance**: Cuzco was also a religious center. The Coricancha, or Temple of the Sun, was the most sacred site in the city. It was a complex of temples and shrines dedicated to various deities, with the sun god Inti at the forefront. The city was a destination for pilgrims and the site of important religious festivals.

4. **Social Organization**: The city's population was composed of nobles, priests, artisans, and laborers. The nobility lived in the city center, close to the Sapa Inca and the religious complexes. Artisans, who were highly valued for their skills, lived in specific neighborhoods where they created goods for the elite. The laborers, or commoners, lived on the outskirts of the city.

5. **Infrastructure**: Cuzco had an advanced infrastructure, with a network of roads connecting it to the rest of the empire. Within the city, there were water channels and fountains that provided a clean water supply, a testament to the Incas' engineering skills.

6. **Economic Hub**: The city was a center of commerce and craft production. Markets in Cuzco facilitated trade, and the Incas' system of state-run storehouses ensured the storage and redistribution of goods.

7. **Ceremonial Spaces**: Large plazas and open spaces were used for public ceremonies and gatherings. The most significant of these was the Huacaypata, or the main square, where the Sapa Inca would preside over important events.

8. **Architecture**: The city was known for its impressive stonework and architecture. Buildings were constructed using a technique known as ashlar masonry, where large stones were precisely cut to fit together without mortar. This technique made the structures highly resistant to earthquakes.

The Spanish conquest in the 16th century led to significant changes in Cuzco's organization, with many Inca structures being destroyed or repurposed. However, the city's original Inca foundations can still be seen today, and Cuzco remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its historical and cultural significance.