Dontgonearthere
13-12-2008, 00:59
This is a factbook for Earth: Americas, a Pre-Columbian Earth set in the period just prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Join here:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=576116
Official Name: Tawantinsuyu
Other names: The Inca, The Inca Empire
Population: 11,700,000
Government: Monarchy with an extensive buerocracy
Economy: Command economy, total state control.
Major population centers: Cuzco, Quito, Tijuanaco, Chan Chan
Geography and Climate
The geography and climate of the Tawantinsuyu is so varied that listing all of the various biomes would be quite a task. In short, the empire encompasses rainforests, deserts, plains, mountains, coastlines, rivers and just about every sort of terrain you can think of.
The Andean desert is one of the driest places on Earth, while the portions of the Amazon the Inca control are subject to an amazing amount of rainfall.
Economy
As mentioned, the economy is entirely state controlled. Using a complex system of knotted ropes, the Inca people keep track of the states massive stores of goods, note the movement of those goods between cities and generally keep track of pretty much everything that goes anywhere within the empire.
Much of this movement takes place along the massive road system which connects the cities major empires. Feature two major north-south roads with a number of connecting roads, the system is not what would, in the modern sense, be called a road. The Inca, lacking the wheel, simply built steps where the terrain was too steep. The road system also features the famous rope bridges, some of which, historically, were in use up until the 1800's.
Main products ("exports") of the Tawantinsuyu:
Maize, pottery, textiles (chiefly llama/alpaca wool), copper, bronze, gold, silver, chicha beer, fish, stone tools and products
Main Imports:
Cotton and wool, obsidian, stone, feathers, exotic shiny things.
Taxes are payed in the form of 'Mita' or 'labor taxes'. Most peasants are required to serve a certain amount of time in state service, building roads, temples, monuments, in the military, and so forth. Higher ranking individuals pay taxes in money or goods, though.
Government
The system of governemnt is complex and very well organized. The empire is divided into four provinces (suyus), each of which has a govenor. This govenor oversees local officials, who in turn oversee the various river vallies, towns, mines and so forth within their jurisdiction.
The religious and military sides of government feature seperate chains of command, establishing a sort of 'checks and balances' system.
The Sapa Inca is the supreme ruler, however, and directs all of this. As a living god, the will of the Sapa Inca is, essentially, supreme. As gods, when the Sapa Inca die they do not leave government, but are, instead, mummified and brought out for consultation whenever important descisions are made. The level of their contribution in these situations has been disputed by historians.
Military
Total Avalible Manpower (Fit males between 16 and 50):
2,925,000
Peacetime military power:
Approx. 15,000 (All male Inca (NOT conqoured peoples) are technically part of the military)
Wartime Conscription/Mita Military Allotment:
Approximatly 250,000 men are maintained by the mita system, not including the Inca warriors themselves.
An additional 500,000 can be raised in wartime. The Inca maintain what can only be called a 'Romanesque' training system, enabling them to rapidly transform any farmer or peasant into a reliable soldier.
Weapons of the Inca Army Proper:
Stone and wooden clubs (as well as 'swords' similar to the Mesoamerican Macahuitl)
Stone axes
Stone or bone spears
Curved scythe-like weapons
Slings, including specialized slinger units as well as 'integrated' units of slingers.
Bolas.
The non-Quechua tribes often employ more exotic weapons, such as blowpipes, longbows, and so on.
Wealthier individuals may acquire copper or bronze varients. Bronze knives are used as well. Anything approaching sword size is extremly rare.
Nobility sometimes use a sort of bronze halberd-like weapon.
Armor of the Inca Army Proper:
Typically cloth-padded armor, sometimes with wooden slats or leather parts.
Wooden, cloth, bone or leather helmets.
Mostly square shields made of reeds, wood, or leather.
Again, wealthy persons may have metal versions of these.
Organization:
As mentioned, the Inca army is highly organized. The Inca make use of geometric formations in battle, tight discipline and a chain of command. The goal of a battle is, unlike the Aztec appraoch, to kill people.
All Inca armies carry a huaca into battle, this is a sacred object of some sort which is similar in function to the 'eagles' of Roman and Napoleonic armies, acting as a symbolic representation of the army. The leader is usually near this, and may be carried to the front in order to take part in the battle.
Usually officers are carried on palanquins, from which they employ slings to hurl stones into battle. Sub-officers and NCO's wear fancier armor (sometimes even with gold ornaments) and fight on foot.
Join here:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=576116
Official Name: Tawantinsuyu
Other names: The Inca, The Inca Empire
Population: 11,700,000
Government: Monarchy with an extensive buerocracy
Economy: Command economy, total state control.
Major population centers: Cuzco, Quito, Tijuanaco, Chan Chan
Geography and Climate
The geography and climate of the Tawantinsuyu is so varied that listing all of the various biomes would be quite a task. In short, the empire encompasses rainforests, deserts, plains, mountains, coastlines, rivers and just about every sort of terrain you can think of.
The Andean desert is one of the driest places on Earth, while the portions of the Amazon the Inca control are subject to an amazing amount of rainfall.
Economy
As mentioned, the economy is entirely state controlled. Using a complex system of knotted ropes, the Inca people keep track of the states massive stores of goods, note the movement of those goods between cities and generally keep track of pretty much everything that goes anywhere within the empire.
Much of this movement takes place along the massive road system which connects the cities major empires. Feature two major north-south roads with a number of connecting roads, the system is not what would, in the modern sense, be called a road. The Inca, lacking the wheel, simply built steps where the terrain was too steep. The road system also features the famous rope bridges, some of which, historically, were in use up until the 1800's.
Main products ("exports") of the Tawantinsuyu:
Maize, pottery, textiles (chiefly llama/alpaca wool), copper, bronze, gold, silver, chicha beer, fish, stone tools and products
Main Imports:
Cotton and wool, obsidian, stone, feathers, exotic shiny things.
Taxes are payed in the form of 'Mita' or 'labor taxes'. Most peasants are required to serve a certain amount of time in state service, building roads, temples, monuments, in the military, and so forth. Higher ranking individuals pay taxes in money or goods, though.
Government
The system of governemnt is complex and very well organized. The empire is divided into four provinces (suyus), each of which has a govenor. This govenor oversees local officials, who in turn oversee the various river vallies, towns, mines and so forth within their jurisdiction.
The religious and military sides of government feature seperate chains of command, establishing a sort of 'checks and balances' system.
The Sapa Inca is the supreme ruler, however, and directs all of this. As a living god, the will of the Sapa Inca is, essentially, supreme. As gods, when the Sapa Inca die they do not leave government, but are, instead, mummified and brought out for consultation whenever important descisions are made. The level of their contribution in these situations has been disputed by historians.
Military
Total Avalible Manpower (Fit males between 16 and 50):
2,925,000
Peacetime military power:
Approx. 15,000 (All male Inca (NOT conqoured peoples) are technically part of the military)
Wartime Conscription/Mita Military Allotment:
Approximatly 250,000 men are maintained by the mita system, not including the Inca warriors themselves.
An additional 500,000 can be raised in wartime. The Inca maintain what can only be called a 'Romanesque' training system, enabling them to rapidly transform any farmer or peasant into a reliable soldier.
Weapons of the Inca Army Proper:
Stone and wooden clubs (as well as 'swords' similar to the Mesoamerican Macahuitl)
Stone axes
Stone or bone spears
Curved scythe-like weapons
Slings, including specialized slinger units as well as 'integrated' units of slingers.
Bolas.
The non-Quechua tribes often employ more exotic weapons, such as blowpipes, longbows, and so on.
Wealthier individuals may acquire copper or bronze varients. Bronze knives are used as well. Anything approaching sword size is extremly rare.
Nobility sometimes use a sort of bronze halberd-like weapon.
Armor of the Inca Army Proper:
Typically cloth-padded armor, sometimes with wooden slats or leather parts.
Wooden, cloth, bone or leather helmets.
Mostly square shields made of reeds, wood, or leather.
Again, wealthy persons may have metal versions of these.
Organization:
As mentioned, the Inca army is highly organized. The Inca make use of geometric formations in battle, tight discipline and a chain of command. The goal of a battle is, unlike the Aztec appraoch, to kill people.
All Inca armies carry a huaca into battle, this is a sacred object of some sort which is similar in function to the 'eagles' of Roman and Napoleonic armies, acting as a symbolic representation of the army. The leader is usually near this, and may be carried to the front in order to take part in the battle.
Usually officers are carried on palanquins, from which they employ slings to hurl stones into battle. Sub-officers and NCO's wear fancier armor (sometimes even with gold ornaments) and fight on foot.