Inca Quipu (1476 – 1534 CE)
Ancient Chinese culture used the abacus. So did the Greeks and Persians. Today we use a spreadsheet. The Inca went with a different tradition, the quipu. Quipu were cords strung on a long string. Each cord was color coded, and tied into intricate knots that contained a world of hidden information. The cord colors, the knots, even the distance between the knots kept detailed records of Incan numeric data, such as population data and taxes.
While the Inca aren’t known for leaving a detailed written record, these knotted cords indicate complex record keeping system, overseen by Khipumayuq, an elite caste who knew how to tie the cords and read the quipu’s data. Although quipu is known for recording numeric data, some quipus have a more elaborate knotting system. Anthropologists are researching whether this means quipu could have recorded non-numeric data, like military history and battle details.
