The+Incas

The Incas civilization was located on the western border of South America. They also consists of many different bioms: mountain grasslands shrub lands, deserts and xeric shrub lands, mediterranean forests woodland and shrub, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. Because of their warm climates the Incas ate a lot of potatoes. Reason being because they grew in low temperature areas. Corn and fish were two other commonly consumed foods. Located right on the ocean acces to fish was very easy, and often taken advantage of by the Incas. The Andes consists of roughly 4049 different potatoes. Lucuma, a tropical fruit, is Peru's native fruite. This fruit was very popular during the Incas existence. Back then it was also referred to as Gold to the Incas. Today Lucuma is the most popular ice cream flavor in Peru. The Incas also had a different range of houses as well. The most common type of homes, Pirkas, has two different section one for parents and the other for children. The houses consisted bricks for the walls, wooden beams for the roof, and straw that acted as a roof. The straw was so pact down that rain usually did not seep through, but would be changed every three years. Quality of the brick defined what strata each family was of. Polished stones were the highest quality. In cities houses were larger and mostly owned by the Inca government. Houses that belonged to the government had the ability to change who lived in those homes. A fun fact about the Incas was that they use to let their llamas into their homes at night to cuddle with in order to keep them warm. The Inca civilization worshiped many gods. The Inti, sun god, Viracocha, the creator, Illapa, the weather/thunder god, the Pachamama, earth goddess, Mamacocha, the sea goddess, and the Mamaquilla, moon goddess. Inti is the most important god to the Incas. The Incas thought that people from the royal family were decedents of the Inti. The emperor would always have to marry their sister to keep their blood pure. Although the gods were very much important the emperors and the sprits of his followers were considers being the most vital religious leaders. Priests were in charge of all sacrifice rituals and ceremonies, which were necessary in the Incan civilization. Normally only animals such as guinea pig and llamas were sacrificed but in desperate times women and children were called to be sacrificed to the gods. Priest would sing songs and after, the sacrificed bodies would be buried with gold and silver statues all around them with bags of corn and other offerings. Even in the Incan civilization games were played. Adults usually played games that had to with gambling. Children played games boards and used beans or stones as pieces. Tlachtli was a popular sport not only played by the Incas but the Aztecs, Mayans and Olmecs. The object of the game was to hit a rubber ball through rings that were twenty- seven feet up in the air and decorated with snakes and monkeys on them. You were only allowed to use you hips, thighs, and upper arms.

Bibliography:

http://www.peru-travel-confidential.com/inca-food.html