Peruvian nights - Another day, another fight ;-)

[mguiling1]

Ines and I had a fight this weekend, so I'll diverge from how we planned for the trip to some of my thoughts on relationships.

Relationships are hard. You must say things you know will hurt the other because if those things aren't said the relationship will suffer. The only people who are immune to this are those who value their agenda more than

Comments

[shadowdrip]

You certainly have an interesting view-point. The Incas, even today, seem almost as if they were demi-gods. Possibly they were since they left such a huge impression upon us before disappearing.

Interesting view?

[mguiling1]

Yes, and it changes day to day, ever coalescing but never firm. Mostly it depends on which book I last read. That the Incas could build such massive structures without a written language is unusual. The fact they left us little history beyond what is revealed in their structures makes them mysterious.
Thanks for dropping by.

[shadowdrip]

How do you feel about the Aztecs?

Aztecs

[mguiling1]

They built some cool pyramids, unfortunately in the rain forest their cities didn't survive as well as what the Incas built. There is a late capital of the Incas that was built in the rain forest called Vilcabamba. When it was finally discovered, most of it had been destroyed by forest growth.

Having a written language didn't save them. All Cortez had to do was take the emperor captive with the same steel swords and armor Pizzaro had, and the empire was in his hands.

I think most of the early cultures were built on complete faith in a single leader/god. Once that person was taken away, the society fell apart. The cultures which had a written record to rely on, and were monotheiestic persevered much better, because their society wasn't based on obedience to a single person.

I just happen to be studying the Incas because I'm going there. The other South American cultures are pretty much a blank to me. But, I enjoy sharing my ignorance ;-)

[shadowdrip]

I have an interest in cultures which have disappeared. I once visited the ruins of the Anasazi in Mesa Verde (Colorado). It made me wonder. They had to go somewhere, right? Or can an entire culture disappear?

I enjoyed reading your response. I

My father was an archaeologist

[mguiling1]

I have visited those ruins as well. Basically a culture is defined by the rules or leaders who govern it. When that structure is gone, the people simply find ways to survive without the culture. They join other tribes, they start their own tribe... The genetic line doesn't cease to exist, but the rules and traditions do.

I enjoy your questions, I hope you keep asking them.

Re: My father was an archaeologist

[shadowdrip]

i was romanticizing. that was a good and frank response. The dissemination of an ancient culture is truly a regrettable thing since the opportunity to learn more about them slips away.

Have you visited many other ruins? You seem to have a penchant towards ancient civilizations.

Re: My father was an archaeologist

[mguiling1]

I love it when someone actually responds to what I said, which doesn't happen very often - never. As I was reading the Inca history, what you said "The dissemination of an ancient culture is truly a regrettable thing since the opportunity to learn more about them slips away" was exactly what I was thinking as I read it.

Every conquering civilization does just that, they destroy the civilization they conquered, they burn their books, they destroy their temples and they impose their mindset on the people they conquered. Fortunately, we live in a day where we can look back on this and learn through the efforts of people who seek to know the truth about what happened.

It was way cool that you admitted romanticizing, that is often the most difficult barrier to break.