COmparison - Then To now
Religion
Comparing Gods and religion: The Inca had a polytheistic religion, and believed in many Gods similar to many other ancient religions. Nowadays most religions such as Christians and Muslims believe in one God, but some believe in several such as Hindus. All the creation stories are different to that of the Incas, but many creation stories start with the world being in darkness. No-one follows the Inca religion any more, possibly because most of the Inca were wiped out when Spain invaded, and possibly because they had no form of written language to solidify their beliefs- only word of mouth.
Comparing ceremonies and celebrations: Because this religion no longer exists, no form of sacrifice is done in Peru or in the rest of the world. People around the world now don’t preserve important people, but they do have more grand funerals, and mourn over the bodies by visiting the grave. The Inca had no form of funeral, just the burial and then the worshiping of the bodies- a very different attitude to the visiting of dead bodies in modern times. No celebrations like Raymi or Sitowa are done seriously any more but in Peru people will sometimes re-enact them. There are however celebrations done for similar reasons- for example Sitowa can be compared to Halloween; the purpose of both of them being chasing off evil spirits.
Comparing religious leaders: Religious leaders around the world don’t have as much power as the Inca priests did. They had the power to influence the decisions of the Emperor and what happened in the city. Now there are normally several different religions in a city, with several places of worship, so the religious leaders have little or no control over any major decisions. The closest leader to the highest Inca priest would be the Pope who is in an extremely high position and does have some influence on decisions made.
Comparing places of worship: There were several temples lined with gold to honor the Gods in the cities of Peru during the time of the Incas, some of which still survive today. Religions nowadays will still make beautiful places of worship, but the appearance isn't as important anymore as it was to the Inca. The Inca found the location of the temples to be very important so that they could honor the sun, but now people make places of worship anywhere; the location is not so important. The Inca could worship anywhere, but the temple was the best place to worship, as it is with many religions now.
Comparing Gods and religion: The Inca had a polytheistic religion, and believed in many Gods similar to many other ancient religions. Nowadays most religions such as Christians and Muslims believe in one God, but some believe in several such as Hindus. All the creation stories are different to that of the Incas, but many creation stories start with the world being in darkness. No-one follows the Inca religion any more, possibly because most of the Inca were wiped out when Spain invaded, and possibly because they had no form of written language to solidify their beliefs- only word of mouth.
Comparing ceremonies and celebrations: Because this religion no longer exists, no form of sacrifice is done in Peru or in the rest of the world. People around the world now don’t preserve important people, but they do have more grand funerals, and mourn over the bodies by visiting the grave. The Inca had no form of funeral, just the burial and then the worshiping of the bodies- a very different attitude to the visiting of dead bodies in modern times. No celebrations like Raymi or Sitowa are done seriously any more but in Peru people will sometimes re-enact them. There are however celebrations done for similar reasons- for example Sitowa can be compared to Halloween; the purpose of both of them being chasing off evil spirits.
Comparing religious leaders: Religious leaders around the world don’t have as much power as the Inca priests did. They had the power to influence the decisions of the Emperor and what happened in the city. Now there are normally several different religions in a city, with several places of worship, so the religious leaders have little or no control over any major decisions. The closest leader to the highest Inca priest would be the Pope who is in an extremely high position and does have some influence on decisions made.
Comparing places of worship: There were several temples lined with gold to honor the Gods in the cities of Peru during the time of the Incas, some of which still survive today. Religions nowadays will still make beautiful places of worship, but the appearance isn't as important anymore as it was to the Inca. The Inca found the location of the temples to be very important so that they could honor the sun, but now people make places of worship anywhere; the location is not so important. The Inca could worship anywhere, but the temple was the best place to worship, as it is with many religions now.
Health
Comparing diseases and treatment: There is a huge difference between the health of the Inca and health of people in modern times. Because of the healthy lifestyle and diet they had, there were no prominent diseases and they lived almost twice as long as most people do now. In terms of how they treated sickness though, there is a large difference. We have a much more advanced way of treating wounds and diseases, with medicines being shipped from all over the world, and many trained and certified doctors. Because the Incas were so advanced for their time, they used some methods that are still being used today- for example skin grafts, and anesthetic.
Comparing sanitation: Some of the Inca water systems are still in use in Peru today because they were so well built. People still use irrigation systems similar to how the Inca made them. But there is a big gap between the toilets of the Inca and modern toilets. Most commoners would go to the toilet in the fields, and the highest ranking people had holes in the ground which linked up with pipes. Now it is the norm to have a flushing toilet in every house with plumbing and seats. Also, we now have a huge range of different soaps and shampoos, whereas the Inca only had one or two kinds.
Comparing nutrition: The Inca had a very healthy and balanced diet, growing all their food nearby and making them into fresh dishes. All over the world in modern times, enormous ranges of produce is available in supermarkets. The kinds of food in our supermarkets are very different to that of the Incas. We are eating much more unhealthy foods than the Inca did, which causes more sicknesses. The Inca only had one sort of drink apart from water, but we have a massive assortment of different kinds of drinks.
Comparing diseases and treatment: There is a huge difference between the health of the Inca and health of people in modern times. Because of the healthy lifestyle and diet they had, there were no prominent diseases and they lived almost twice as long as most people do now. In terms of how they treated sickness though, there is a large difference. We have a much more advanced way of treating wounds and diseases, with medicines being shipped from all over the world, and many trained and certified doctors. Because the Incas were so advanced for their time, they used some methods that are still being used today- for example skin grafts, and anesthetic.
Comparing sanitation: Some of the Inca water systems are still in use in Peru today because they were so well built. People still use irrigation systems similar to how the Inca made them. But there is a big gap between the toilets of the Inca and modern toilets. Most commoners would go to the toilet in the fields, and the highest ranking people had holes in the ground which linked up with pipes. Now it is the norm to have a flushing toilet in every house with plumbing and seats. Also, we now have a huge range of different soaps and shampoos, whereas the Inca only had one or two kinds.
Comparing nutrition: The Inca had a very healthy and balanced diet, growing all their food nearby and making them into fresh dishes. All over the world in modern times, enormous ranges of produce is available in supermarkets. The kinds of food in our supermarkets are very different to that of the Incas. We are eating much more unhealthy foods than the Inca did, which causes more sicknesses. The Inca only had one sort of drink apart from water, but we have a massive assortment of different kinds of drinks.