Honors World History Practice Exam

Which civilization is known for using quipu as a record-keeping method?

Inca Empire Maya Civilization Mali Empire Aztec Empire

Correct Answer:

Inca Empire

Explanation:

Quipu are knotted cords used for recording information, and the Inca Empire is the civilization most associated with this method of administration. Across their vast Andean realm, quipu tracked censuses, taxes, tribute, labor obligations, and supplies, serving as a non-writing system that helped manage resources. The knots and cord structure encode numbers in a decimal system, with color and placement signaling categories like region or type of good. Other civilizations listed relied on writing or pictorial records—Maya with its glyphs, Aztec with codices, and Mali more often on oral tradition and other forms of record-keeping—so quipu stands out as the hallmark method for the Inca.

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