The Lost Science: Ancestral Knowledge of the Incas and Mayans

The Inca and Mayan civilizations, despite being distant in time and space, share a heritage rich in scientific, social and cultural knowledge. 

This ancestral knowledge of the Incas and Mayans represents an extraordinary legacy that continues to fascinate scholars and laypeople, revealing a deep understanding of nature, the cosmos and human relationships.

In this article, we will explore in depth the social systems, technological advances and the irreversible impact of Spanish colonization on these cultures, highlighting the loss and preservation of their ancestral knowledge.

Social Organization: Structure and Hierarchy in the Ancestral Knowledge of the Incas and Mayans

The social structure of the Inca and Mayan civilizations was fundamental for the transmission and preservation of their ancestral knowledge. 

Both societies developed complex systems that reflected their beliefs and values, and which were essential to maintaining order and social cohesion.

Incas: Inca society was rigidly hierarchical, with the Sapa Inca at the top, followed by a powerful nobility and religious elite.

The basis of society was made up of the ayllus, family groups that shared land and resources. The transmission of ancestral knowledge of the Incas was centralized and controlled by the upper classes, especially the priests, who preserved and taught religious, agricultural and astronomical traditions.

This centralized control allowed the Inca Empire to maintain remarkable cohesion even in the face of external challenges.

Mayans: In contrast, the Mayans had a more decentralized social organization, with several independent city-states, each governed by its own elite.

This decentralization influenced the way in which the ancestral knowledge of the Mayans was preserved and transmitted.

Religion played a central role in Mayan society, with priests serving as the main guardians of knowledge, including the calendar, hieroglyphic writing, and religious rituals.

Education was reserved for the elite, ensuring that the ancestral knowledge of the Mayans was passed from generation to generation within the ruling classes.

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Technological Advances: Agriculture, Astronomy and Architecture in the Ancestral Knowledge of the Incas and Mayans

The ancestral knowledge of the Incas and Mayans includes a wide range of technological advances, many of which still impress modern scholars with their sophistication and efficiency.

Agriculture: Inca agricultural engineering, exemplified by terraces on mountain slopes, allowed for the maximization of food production in challenging terrain.

These terraces, along with complex irrigation systems, are testaments to the ancestral knowledge of the Incas in environmental management.

The Mayans, who operated in a tropical jungle environment, developed agricultural techniques such as milpa, which involved crop rotation to maintain soil fertility, and chinampas, artificial islands created to increase cultivable area.

Astronomy: Astronomy played a crucial role for both the Incas and the Mayans. The ancestral knowledge of the Incas in astronomy was applied to agricultural practices and religious events.

They used the position of the stars and planets to predict the seasons and organize their activities.

The Mayans, in turn, had one of the most accurate calendars in antiquity and built astronomical observatories such as Chichen Itza, demonstrating a deep understanding of celestial cycles.

This ancestral knowledge of the Mayans allowed detailed predictions of eclipses and planetary alignments, influencing their political and religious decisions.

Architecture: The architecture of the Inca and Mayan civilizations is another area where their ancestral knowledge stands out.

Machu Picchu, the sacred city of the Incas, is a notable example of construction adapted to the natural environment, using dry stone techniques that resist earthquakes.

Mayan pyramid temples, such as those found at Tikal and Uxmal, are equally impressive, not only for their grandeur but also for their architectural precision and astronomical alignment.

Both people used their ancestral knowledge to build structures that resisted time and the forces of nature.

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Religion as the Basis of Knowledge: The Spiritual Role in the Ancestral Knowledge of the Incas and Mayans

Religion occupied a central position in the daily lives of the Inca and Mayan civilizations, and their ancestral knowledge was, to a large extent, shaped and transmitted through religious practices and beliefs.

Incas: For the Incas, religion was a direct extension of political power. The Sapa Inca, considered the son of the Sun god, was the intermediary between gods and men.

The ancestral knowledge of the Incas regarding cosmology, agriculture and medicine was deeply intertwined with their religious practices.

Ceremonies and rituals, many of which involved human and animal sacrifices, were performed to ensure harmony between the spiritual and material worlds.

Mayans: Among the Mayans, religion permeated all aspects of life. Their ancestral knowledge was preserved in codices, sacred texts that documented everything from the calendar to religious rituals.

Mayan priests were responsible for interpreting cosmic cycles and performing ceremonies that guaranteed the fertility of the land and the continuity of life.

The pyramids and temples, such as those at Palenque and Copán, were not just physical structures, but centers of spiritual knowledge, where sacred rituals were conducted to maintain cosmic order.

The Impact of Spanish Colonization and the Loss of Ancestral Knowledge of the Incas and Mayans

The arrival of the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century marked the beginning of one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Latin America.

The conquest and subsequent colonization resulted in the destruction of much of the ancestral knowledge of the Incas and Mayans, much of which was deliberately suppressed or lost forever.

Incas: The capture of Atahualpa by Francisco Pizarro in 1532 and the subsequent conquest of the Inca Empire represented a fatal blow to the continuity of the ancestral knowledge of the Incas.

The Spanish imposed their religion, their laws and exploited natural resources, which led to the collapse of Inca social and political structures.

Many of the ancestral knowledge that did not fit into the European view of the world were destroyed, such as religious practices and oral records.

Mayans: The Mayans had already begun to decline before the arrival of the Spanish, but colonization drastically accelerated this process.

The Mayan city-states were subjugated and their temples and libraries were burned, resulting in the loss of priceless manuscripts that contained centuries of ancient Mayan knowledge.

Although some texts, such as the Popol Vuh, have survived, most records have been irretrievably destroyed.

The imposition of the Christian faith and the Spanish language erased much of the Mayan cultural heritage.

Comparative Table: Inca and Maya Ancestral Knowledge

Conclusion

Despite the devastation caused by colonization, fragments of the ancestral knowledge of the Incas and Mayans survived, thanks to the cultural resistance of indigenous peoples and the work of archaeologists and anthropologists.

Today, modern science is beginning to rediscover and value this knowledge, applying it in areas such as sustainable agriculture, resilient architecture and astronomy.

The preservation and continuous study of this ancestral knowledge is fundamental to understanding not only the past, but also to facing the challenges of the future.

Nara 22 de August de 2024