The Inca system that preceded the digital age
The Incas built a communication network so advanced that it still challenges how we think about technology, diplomacy, and the human drive to stay connected.
Long before the internet and instant messaging, the Inca Empire built its own intricate communication web that spanned thousands of kilometres across the Andes.
In his blog post ‘Quipus and chasquis: The Inca internet of diplomacy,’ Jovan Kurbalija explores how this ancient civilisation mastered the art of connecting people and information without written language or digital tools, relying instead on an ingenious blend of data, logistics, and human networks.
At the heart of this system were the quipus, bundles of knotted cords that stored census data, taxes, inventories, and decrees. Each knot, colour, and string length encoded information much like modern databases do today. Far from being primitive, quipus functioned as the Incas’ version of data storage and computation, a tangible form of coding that required skilled interpreters to read and maintain.
The chasquis, on the other hand, were the living couriers of the empire, elite runners who relayed quipus and oral messages across vast distances using a network of mountain roads. Their relay system ensured that vital information could travel hundreds of kilometres within a day, forming what Kurbalija calls a ‘human internet.’ That combination of endurance, coordination, and trust made the Inca communication network remarkably efficient and resilient.
Beyond its technical brilliance, the Inca system carried a deeper diplomatic purpose. Communication was the glue that held together a vast and diverse empire. By integrating technology, logistics, and human skill, the Incas created a model of governance that balanced diversity and unity.
As Kurbalija concludes, the story of the quipus and chasquis offers a timeless lesson for modern diplomacy. Technology alone does not sustain communication; people do. Whether through knotted cords or encrypted data cables, the challenge remains the same, which is to move information wisely, build trust, and connect societies.
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