What Was the Purpose of the Inca's Strange Strings?

Front

What is a quipu?

Back

A quipu is a collection of colored strings and knots used by the Inca civilization for record-keeping and communication.

Front

What was the purpose of the Inca's strange strings?

Back

The purpose of the Inca's strange strings, or quipus, was to serve as a 3-D language written in thread and as a mathematical calculator.

Front

True or False: Quipus are made of cotton and wool strings, sometimes hundreds of them, attached to a thicker horizontal cord.

Back

True

Front

What does it mean for a text to be persuasive?

Back

A persuasive text tries to convince the reader to support or oppose an idea.

Front

True or False: Researchers have found identical knot patterns in the strings of different quipus.

Back

False

Front

What materials were quipus made from?

Back

Quipus were made from cotton and wool strings.

Front

What is the significance of the colors in a quipu?

Back

The colors in a quipu may represent different categories of information or data.

Front

How did the Inca use quipus for mathematics?

Back

The Inca used quipus to perform calculations and keep track of numerical data.

Front

What is the difference between a persuasive article and a narrative?

Back

A persuasive article aims to convince the reader about an idea, while a narrative tells a story about characters and events.

Front

What is an example of a quipu's use in Inca society?

Back

Quipus were used to record census data, agricultural production, and tribute payments.