How did the Inca run an empire high in the Andes mountains without writing?
Knots & Runners
How did the Inca run an empire high in the Andes mountains without writing?
Imagine running an empire stretched along the spine of the Andes — thousands of miles, millions of people, mountains so steep the clouds get tired. Now imagine doing it all without a single written word. No letters, no contracts, no tax forms. The Inca did exactly that, and they made it look almost easy.
The Inca didn't write, but they did keep records — on strings. Their great invention was the quipu: a thick cord with dozens of smaller cords hanging off it, each one tied with knots. To us it looks like a tangled mop. To them, it was a spreadsheet you could roll up and carry.
