The Inca Empire used knots instead of writing
The Inca Empire ingeniously managed its vast domain using quipu—knotted, color-coded cords—to record complex data, proving an empire could thrive without a written language.
The Inca Empire, spanning much of South America until 1533, managed its vast domain without a written language. Instead, they used quipu: intricate systems of knotted, colored cords. These quipus recorded everything from census data and crop yields to tribute payments, with different knot types and positions representing numerical values in a decimal system.
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