Above illustration: inca kids https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT32VqUJr9egoKKGxH1iwHVVpzOb4hymB0OWZRr1Bb8hC-Mrve_d3Ob0Gw
Education
Incas had a clear segregation system in place when it came to imparting knowledge and education. The education given to men of nobility was very different from what the masses/commoners learned. Furthermore, the princes and princesses were taught different things as per the roles they were expected to play in their lives.
Inca/Noble Education
In the thirteenth century Inca Sinchi Roca established a school at Cusco. The men who taught in these schools were philosophers, amautas and poets. Since they had no writing systems the teachers spoke and taught their students by practice, repetition and experience.
It is believed that the young members of the royal family and a few other talented youngsters chosen from around the Inca Empire commenced their educational lives at the age of 13 and graduated at the age of 16. The best scholars of the empire called the Amawtakuna conducted sessions for these privileged students (young novices or yachakuq runa).
The subjects they studied were:
All education was given orally as there was no system of writing. Examinations were held at the end of every young novice's educational life and they were presented with special underwear called wara when they successfully proved the knowledge they had obtained. A wara signified the virility and maturity of each student who received it. After this a graduation ceremony was held, where these future leaders of the Inca empire displayed their command over the subjects they had learned. A show of physical strength and martial skills was held to prove their masculinity. These ceremonies were attended by the most respected Inca scholars and other aristocratic members. These ceremonies usually ended with the Sovereign of the Inca State piercing the ear of every participant and declaring them to be the "Children of the Sun."
Commoners Education
The majority of of people in the Inca empire did not go to formal schools and instead had a practical vocational education with the passing of knowledge down from one generation to the next including information on subjects of:
All this was taught by the elders in the family. The majority did not attend schools of any kind. So, the manual but all important tasks such as building fortresses, temples, irrigation systems, stone buildings, roads, rope bridges and water fountains were all carried out by commoners.
Female Education
Training for the girls was different. The girls with talent and beauty were chosen from the villages. They were named as virgin of the sun. They were given training on the art of spinning, weaving, cooking, chicha-making (fermented and non-fermented corn drinks and religion They also went to school for four years.
The princesses and a chosen few were taught the art of governance at girls-only schools called Aqlla wasi but not in so much detail as their male counterparts. Women from all stations of life were groomed to enhance their feminine ways. At the end of their education, some chose to become teachers themselves, while some from lower stations in life were chosen to become secondary wives of the Sapa Inca or were sent to men of power as rewards.
Quechua Language
One thing that was ensured throughout the empire irrespective of class and gender was the thorough command over the Quechua language. Every member of the society had to be fluent in the Quechua language. This was more about ensuring political control than for educational reasons.
Incas had a clear segregation system in place when it came to imparting knowledge and education. The education given to men of nobility was very different from what the masses/commoners learned. Furthermore, the princes and princesses were taught different things as per the roles they were expected to play in their lives.
Inca/Noble Education
In the thirteenth century Inca Sinchi Roca established a school at Cusco. The men who taught in these schools were philosophers, amautas and poets. Since they had no writing systems the teachers spoke and taught their students by practice, repetition and experience.
It is believed that the young members of the royal family and a few other talented youngsters chosen from around the Inca Empire commenced their educational lives at the age of 13 and graduated at the age of 16. The best scholars of the empire called the Amawtakuna conducted sessions for these privileged students (young novices or yachakuq runa).
The subjects they studied were:
- Quecha Language (Year 1)
- Inca Religion (Year 2)
- Quipu (see next page) (Year 3)
- Inca History (Year 4)
- Physical Education (boxing, wrestling, fighting)
- Military Techniques
- Politics
- Morality
All education was given orally as there was no system of writing. Examinations were held at the end of every young novice's educational life and they were presented with special underwear called wara when they successfully proved the knowledge they had obtained. A wara signified the virility and maturity of each student who received it. After this a graduation ceremony was held, where these future leaders of the Inca empire displayed their command over the subjects they had learned. A show of physical strength and martial skills was held to prove their masculinity. These ceremonies were attended by the most respected Inca scholars and other aristocratic members. These ceremonies usually ended with the Sovereign of the Inca State piercing the ear of every participant and declaring them to be the "Children of the Sun."
Commoners Education
The majority of of people in the Inca empire did not go to formal schools and instead had a practical vocational education with the passing of knowledge down from one generation to the next including information on subjects of:
- agriculture
- fishing
- hunting
- masonry
- rope bridge making
- road construction
- stonework
- religion
- arts
- morality
All this was taught by the elders in the family. The majority did not attend schools of any kind. So, the manual but all important tasks such as building fortresses, temples, irrigation systems, stone buildings, roads, rope bridges and water fountains were all carried out by commoners.
Female Education
Training for the girls was different. The girls with talent and beauty were chosen from the villages. They were named as virgin of the sun. They were given training on the art of spinning, weaving, cooking, chicha-making (fermented and non-fermented corn drinks and religion They also went to school for four years.
The princesses and a chosen few were taught the art of governance at girls-only schools called Aqlla wasi but not in so much detail as their male counterparts. Women from all stations of life were groomed to enhance their feminine ways. At the end of their education, some chose to become teachers themselves, while some from lower stations in life were chosen to become secondary wives of the Sapa Inca or were sent to men of power as rewards.
Quechua Language
One thing that was ensured throughout the empire irrespective of class and gender was the thorough command over the Quechua language. Every member of the society had to be fluent in the Quechua language. This was more about ensuring political control than for educational reasons.