Andean Road System
• Criteria IV. Be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history.
The way they built the road system was in order for it to adapt in future conditions. The architectural structures are on point within standards and are for control, protection, and a designated route for products to be moved along within the mountains, coast and Amazonia. Most of these architecture functions as structures that is related to the operation of the Tawantinsuyu. The road network displays a good interrelationship of these communities within the environment they currently in. They make sure that the Andean Road System will maintain that connection with …show more content…
their surrounding areas such as the existing landscape, the water, hills, lakes, and many more elements. Another interesting fact about the road system is that it is made up with very subtle infrastructure components, where stone roads varies in design from very simple to being complex. The design is flexible and conform with the current condition within the topography and of course with an accordance with location of site. One obstacle that Inca had to deal with was building the system around the desert areas. Because 100 kilometers of dry and hot desert is not reasonable for pedestrian to cross for they will be dehydrated and could even lead to death because of temperature and exhaustion. But even so, the Inca's were able to build a system around the desert but made a detour inland so that they will have access to water and other resources that they might need during their travel period passing through the desert. This route gave Inca's an advantage to take over the North and South to plan routes and dominate the most arid desert in the world. Moreover, they also carefully mapped out the most rugged terrain because even with our advanced technology that exist today will not be able to avoid it. There is just no way because of the physical condition it has and so one must work their way around it. And with that, the Inca's built their road above than usual placing it by the slopes but high enough where water will not disrupt the roads. The roads were basically on retaining walls with drainage so if ever water takes over it has that drainage it would need for water to pass and not make a puddle of water across the road. Another structure Inca's built was the bridge over river edges. Qhapaq Ñan not only stands out through appearance but also the way they constructed it fascinates people since there is not much equipment before then. One can tell that when the Inca's built these road systems they carefully thought of every possibilities whether good or bad. They used the geography and the physical conditions to their advantage use and built around it for functions they would normally would use for. The components used when building the system portrays the very diverse in terms of their architecture, art, handicrafts, landscape, and many more. These differences somehow help established those lines in between in terms of political territory and until now the cultural aspect of it still lives and followed.
• Criteria V. Be an outstanding example of traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
Despite of the physical conditions of the system, the slopes and the terrain were the principles that made a statement on how Qhapaq Ñan was built. The design was simple enough and then took it into another level of construction given those natural conditions of the area. But, the technicality of it being built is not the only leverage on road construction. Having that said, the communities that exists within these roads in the central Andesare called ayllu. They produce products that are a resource for export and earn a living for their families. Each household has no restriction within the production zones; they are free to utilize everything they can get their hands on. One of the most significant or say most treasured art will be weaving textiles. Textiles in the Inca are very rare and they use organic materials which is not sufficient to produce a good amount. The Inca's highly values their textiles that instead of handing it over to the Spaniards they burnt it all. That is one to be proud of because they value it so much that they wanted to keep the originality and uniqueness of it. They somehow preserved the culture of it in a different way. During the pre-Conquest Andes time, that was an important part of the culture because it displays the statement of their identity within the community. Two important techniques was practiced during that era and it was the interlocked tapestry and warp patterning. Many of these communities still relies on the resources and gradually taking the agriculture condition into consideration so that they will have enough supplies for everyone to use.
• Criteria VI. Be direct or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria) Today's communities that are living within the vicinity of the Andean Road System still practices the cultural practices their ancestors left them and also continues to utilize the road.
They have so much respect with the natural characteristics of their space that includes but not limited to the mountains, water, animals and plants. Because they believed that these elements create that harmonious style of living and balances out the aura between nature and human. These roads are considered to be a landmark for the socio-cultural that accrued throughout time and the economic aspect of it, and the political association of the road to the empire built. Truly this road system also displays the respect that humans have with nature even though they altered the physical conditions of it but not disrupted in a way that they completely destroyed it. The Inca's had changed their theology when it comes to expanding their world within the given vicinity. The Andean Road System plays an important role not only that it served as roadway but it also played that role of dividing the space and society that is connected within the road network. Myths and legends were passed down through the different generations. It is part of giving their community a specific identity; a unique trait of their society among the others that also existed. Rituals and festive events were also part of their culture and that links them altogether because of the commonality each has. It is a matter of how one expresses it to be differentiated from others. Most rituals includes the relationship between human, nature and spiritual environment. Conserving the road means preserving the knowledge, traditional techniques, art, the architecture and many more. Within these given parameters, different cultures were established and identified. When referring to a group identity they would go back to Qhapaq Ñan to track down different information they would need to study it. Qhapaq Ñan is a good
example of a sustainable design and throughout time it has maintained the cultural aspect of it and at the same time to accord the necessities of the future occupants. It is important for them to balance out the human and spiritual level so that they will live that harmonious life and not get punished by hardship. When they built the road system, they understood that there is a cultural manifestation through art, architecture, agriculture and etc. The road up to date still continues to serve its users and functionality of integration, communication, trading, and other socio transformations there may be. These elements gave these communities major identities that will stick by them forever.
Statement of outstanding universal value
Qhapaq Ñan, the Andean Road System is a perfect example of how an impossible condition could be turned into something that one could not think of. Regardless of the physical conditions of the system, it left that track of cultural importance throughout time. This road system is a good linkage on how they connect all those into a singular community and helped them diversify the different areas throughout the road system. Knowing the steepness of the slopes and having them to built a connection between the snow capped mountain in Andes is spectacular. With an altitude of over 6,000 meters high up along the coast, that run through rainforest area, fertile valleys, and deserts. Communities were somehow integrated because of how the road system was built in a single grid. They proposed a specific program for maintaining the safety and sanitary of it. The road system was a result of a political project that the Inca's enforced by connecting the different towns and worshiping under different economic, social, cultural aspect within the State. One of the excellent feature of this road system was it continued on its legacy of providing that access from place to place with the presence of difficult terrains and roadways. The importance of the road system still remains intact along through Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It created that way to have more focus on the different features of each countries have and their uniqueness will continue along with their descendants.
Comparative analysis
Qhapaq Ñan, is a continental communication system that is under the account of the imperial system of the Inca's. The Road System was an estimated 30,000 kilometers long with an interdependent routes of paths built prior the Andes culture. The quality of the construction project finds that there was no need to incline any of the previous cultural background. These roads were connected with different purposes whether it is for productive, administrative or ceremonial festivities. The Road portrays the harmonious effect between nature and human beings. Qhapaq Ñan has transformed one of the most complex geographical feature of South America.
The way they built the road system was in order for it to adapt in future conditions. The architectural structures are on point within standards and are for control, protection, and a designated route for products to be moved along within the mountains, coast and Amazonia. Most of these architecture functions as structures that is related to the operation of the Tawantinsuyu. The road network displays a good interrelationship of these communities within the environment they currently in. They make sure that the Andean Road System will maintain that connection with …show more content…
their surrounding areas such as the existing landscape, the water, hills, lakes, and many more elements. Another interesting fact about the road system is that it is made up with very subtle infrastructure components, where stone roads varies in design from very simple to being complex. The design is flexible and conform with the current condition within the topography and of course with an accordance with location of site. One obstacle that Inca had to deal with was building the system around the desert areas. Because 100 kilometers of dry and hot desert is not reasonable for pedestrian to cross for they will be dehydrated and could even lead to death because of temperature and exhaustion. But even so, the Inca's were able to build a system around the desert but made a detour inland so that they will have access to water and other resources that they might need during their travel period passing through the desert. This route gave Inca's an advantage to take over the North and South to plan routes and dominate the most arid desert in the world. Moreover, they also carefully mapped out the most rugged terrain because even with our advanced technology that exist today will not be able to avoid it. There is just no way because of the physical condition it has and so one must work their way around it. And with that, the Inca's built their road above than usual placing it by the slopes but high enough where water will not disrupt the roads. The roads were basically on retaining walls with drainage so if ever water takes over it has that drainage it would need for water to pass and not make a puddle of water across the road. Another structure Inca's built was the bridge over river edges. Qhapaq Ñan not only stands out through appearance but also the way they constructed it fascinates people since there is not much equipment before then. One can tell that when the Inca's built these road systems they carefully thought of every possibilities whether good or bad. They used the geography and the physical conditions to their advantage use and built around it for functions they would normally would use for. The components used when building the system portrays the very diverse in terms of their architecture, art, handicrafts, landscape, and many more. These differences somehow help established those lines in between in terms of political territory and until now the cultural aspect of it still lives and followed.
• Criteria V. Be an outstanding example of traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
Despite of the physical conditions of the system, the slopes and the terrain were the principles that made a statement on how Qhapaq Ñan was built. The design was simple enough and then took it into another level of construction given those natural conditions of the area. But, the technicality of it being built is not the only leverage on road construction. Having that said, the communities that exists within these roads in the central Andesare called ayllu. They produce products that are a resource for export and earn a living for their families. Each household has no restriction within the production zones; they are free to utilize everything they can get their hands on. One of the most significant or say most treasured art will be weaving textiles. Textiles in the Inca are very rare and they use organic materials which is not sufficient to produce a good amount. The Inca's highly values their textiles that instead of handing it over to the Spaniards they burnt it all. That is one to be proud of because they value it so much that they wanted to keep the originality and uniqueness of it. They somehow preserved the culture of it in a different way. During the pre-Conquest Andes time, that was an important part of the culture because it displays the statement of their identity within the community. Two important techniques was practiced during that era and it was the interlocked tapestry and warp patterning. Many of these communities still relies on the resources and gradually taking the agriculture condition into consideration so that they will have enough supplies for everyone to use.
• Criteria VI. Be direct or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria) Today's communities that are living within the vicinity of the Andean Road System still practices the cultural practices their ancestors left them and also continues to utilize the road.
They have so much respect with the natural characteristics of their space that includes but not limited to the mountains, water, animals and plants. Because they believed that these elements create that harmonious style of living and balances out the aura between nature and human. These roads are considered to be a landmark for the socio-cultural that accrued throughout time and the economic aspect of it, and the political association of the road to the empire built. Truly this road system also displays the respect that humans have with nature even though they altered the physical conditions of it but not disrupted in a way that they completely destroyed it. The Inca's had changed their theology when it comes to expanding their world within the given vicinity. The Andean Road System plays an important role not only that it served as roadway but it also played that role of dividing the space and society that is connected within the road network. Myths and legends were passed down through the different generations. It is part of giving their community a specific identity; a unique trait of their society among the others that also existed. Rituals and festive events were also part of their culture and that links them altogether because of the commonality each has. It is a matter of how one expresses it to be differentiated from others. Most rituals includes the relationship between human, nature and spiritual environment. Conserving the road means preserving the knowledge, traditional techniques, art, the architecture and many more. Within these given parameters, different cultures were established and identified. When referring to a group identity they would go back to Qhapaq Ñan to track down different information they would need to study it. Qhapaq Ñan is a good
example of a sustainable design and throughout time it has maintained the cultural aspect of it and at the same time to accord the necessities of the future occupants. It is important for them to balance out the human and spiritual level so that they will live that harmonious life and not get punished by hardship. When they built the road system, they understood that there is a cultural manifestation through art, architecture, agriculture and etc. The road up to date still continues to serve its users and functionality of integration, communication, trading, and other socio transformations there may be. These elements gave these communities major identities that will stick by them forever.
Statement of outstanding universal value
Qhapaq Ñan, the Andean Road System is a perfect example of how an impossible condition could be turned into something that one could not think of. Regardless of the physical conditions of the system, it left that track of cultural importance throughout time. This road system is a good linkage on how they connect all those into a singular community and helped them diversify the different areas throughout the road system. Knowing the steepness of the slopes and having them to built a connection between the snow capped mountain in Andes is spectacular. With an altitude of over 6,000 meters high up along the coast, that run through rainforest area, fertile valleys, and deserts. Communities were somehow integrated because of how the road system was built in a single grid. They proposed a specific program for maintaining the safety and sanitary of it. The road system was a result of a political project that the Inca's enforced by connecting the different towns and worshiping under different economic, social, cultural aspect within the State. One of the excellent feature of this road system was it continued on its legacy of providing that access from place to place with the presence of difficult terrains and roadways. The importance of the road system still remains intact along through Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It created that way to have more focus on the different features of each countries have and their uniqueness will continue along with their descendants.
Comparative analysis
Qhapaq Ñan, is a continental communication system that is under the account of the imperial system of the Inca's. The Road System was an estimated 30,000 kilometers long with an interdependent routes of paths built prior the Andes culture. The quality of the construction project finds that there was no need to incline any of the previous cultural background. These roads were connected with different purposes whether it is for productive, administrative or ceremonial festivities. The Road portrays the harmonious effect between nature and human beings. Qhapaq Ñan has transformed one of the most complex geographical feature of South America.