In world history classes within the United States, the curriculum tends to focus on empires and cultures that are deemed “more powerful,” such as the Greeks and Romans. Accordingly, my interest in history has been largely shaped by studying these civilizations as opposed to others. However, studying Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Inca, has shown me that being a student of history requires you to delve into topics that those who design K-12 curricula might not find as interesting. During the tour at Museo Larco, I found that the role of geography in differentiating regions is highly compelling, and it affects many aspects of the culture of a particular part of Perú.
Firstly, I noticed that the proximity to water is a major determinant of infrastructure. In Lima, which is the largest city on the Pacific Ocean in South America, there is an inherent sense of interconnectedness. Within the 43 districts of Lima, there are ethnic enclaves such as Chinatowns as well as museums that exhibit artifacts from many different cultures. Because of the access to the Pacific Ocean, the food is always fresh, and there seems to be an innate hustle-and-bustle that captivates the city each morning. Conversely, Cuzco is located in a heavily mountainous region at an altitude above 11,000 feet. Relying on the colder climate compared to Lima, Cuzco obtains its freshwater from melted snow and nearby lakes. Irrigation systems are necessary to reach certain communities in Perú, especially those located in desert regions or at high altitudes.
Additionally, geography also played a significant role in cultural affairs during the ancient times. Many Inca fortresses survived due to the high elevation that deterred conquistadors. At Pisac for example, the Inca built their settlement along the mountains above the Sacred Valley in order to avoid being sitting ducks during a potential invasion. Relatedly, I feel like it is a reasonable inference that the difficulty in traversing the mountainous land resulted in how military, governmental, and residential operations were consolidated in one area. Many of the fortresses we visited had panoramic views of either side of the mountain, showing how the Inca used geography to maximize their potential as an empire. Even their trails were designed to resist heavy rainfall and rock plunges, which serves as an example that the Inca were able to offset several geographic disadvantages.
On the other hand, the Paracas people who dwelled in Southern Peru encountered arid deserts, resulting in suboptimal living conditions compared to more fertile areas. In spite of this obvious disadvantage, the Paracas people developed advanced underground irrigation systems that allowed their culture to flourish. In particular, the Nazca people, perhaps most known for geoglyphs known as the Nazca lines, significantly contributed to ancient history by pioneering irrigation techniques that include reservoirs and aqueducts. These systems allowed southern civilizations to prosper for generations, and the effects of these cultures can still be witnessed today. Other cultures of Southern Peru resided closer to Lake Titicaca or other bodies of water, which eliminated the need for irrigation.
Over the course of the trip, I’m interested in analyzing other ways besides water access in which geography significantly affected cultural practices and development. Selfishly, I hope that looking at geography through this lens removes the common predisposition to dismiss geography as merely memorizing locations and capitals. Either way, the role of geography in influencing modern and ancient Perú cannot be understated.
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