Introduction

The Inca. The Romans. Never thought that you would see them together on the same page, did you? Well, after some research, I found out that they're more alike than we take them to be. For one, the Roman civilization started around the 509 BC and Inca empire began in 1200 AD, but the Inca died off in 1535 AD while the Romans are still here today. Despite the time difference, there's still a lot of similarities.

Government and Laws

The Inca and the Romans each had one leader, who consulted priests about the future. They conquered people differently. The skilled and disciplined Roman army was violent. The Inca were more peaceful; they tried to form a truce with the tribe they were attacking before they captured them. After victory they stationed troops around the tribes. Loyal tribes were rewarded and allowed to keep their leader, and trouble makers were moved closer to the capital.
Both empires made commoners pay tribute or tax. The Inca had lots of gold and silver, but it was not used for money. Rome's currency was a silver coin called the Denarius. People were organized into different social ranks. The Inca: commoners and nobility. The Romans: slaves, freedmen, and free born citizens. Upper classes formed financial and political alliances with each other. Non-Romans were allowed to pay a very high price for a citizenship. Citizens had these rights: they were guaranteed a trial in Rome before put to death, were not allowed to be crucified, and could not be tried by other religious groups or countries.
Inca government gave out rations of food to people out of their storage houses. The Romans enjoyed a free market. to encourage marriage, Inca government gave land to newlyweds. Both civilizations had a highway system. The Roman highway was about 53,819 miles long, and the Inca's 14,000 miles. The roads were used for the same reasons: transporting armies, for traders, and for messengers. Inca empire used Chasquis to carry and spread messages by mouth. Inca roads went through mountains, rivers, valleys and had rest stops every few miles.

Culture, Language, and Religion

The Inca spoke Quechua, a language which everyone learned to keep unity in the kingdom, but there was no form of writing. Quipu Camayocs passed down the history, language, religion, and legends orally. Romans spoke Latin, and had a written language, although immigrants didn't always speak Latin. The Inca used Quipus to count and keep track of things, from food to populations of people. Romans had their own number system, the Roman numeral. Both empires had knowledgeable surgeons and doctors.

Inca believed in life after death, and highly respected their ancestors. In fact, they respected them so much that after they died and were mummified, they were still part of the household. Mummies were given food and brought out for important religious ceremonies. Rome also honoured their dead and had cults and mythology. Romans were very superstitious. Armies even refused to go to battle if the omens were bad. Both civilizations built temples for their many gods, and sacrificed. The Inca rarely sacrificed humans though, except for the religious ball game Tlachtli, which determined the team to be given to their gods. Romans sacrificed food. Prayer for the Romans was confusing because often they were told that they could only pray to certain gods for certain things.
The Inca and Romans made art, jewelery, and built magnificent monuments. In fact, Rome's Colosseum and Inca's Machu Picchu are part of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Inca grew potatoes, squash, Lima beans, peanuts, peppers, tomatoes, and raised llama for meat, transporting goods, and clothing. They used vertical farming, terraces, and canal systems to farm. The Romans raised wheat, olives, grapes, cows, sheep, and goats.

Entertainment

Inca commoners did not have much free time as they worked from dawn to dusk. However, they did play Pisqoynyo, a top game. They also enjoyed playing dice, sports (the religious ball game Tlachtli), and dancing the Qamili. Incas made instruments from brass, made flutes and percussion instruments.
Romans enjoyed circuses, but favoured chariot- racing over Roman athletics, even though the circuses included both. The admission was free for poor citizens, but the richer could pay to get better seats. Romans also liked gladiator fights. Gladiators were usually slaves and social outcasts who were bought and trained to be a gladiator, or were trying to win their freedom. Elephants, zebras, or giraffes could be trained to fight with each other to their death, or to kill humans.
The gladiators fought in an ampitheater- a huge arena that could seat thousands of people and the floor of the fighting area was covered with sand to soak up any blood. The Colosseum was one of the biggest theaters in Rome, seating up to 50,000 people. The arena could also be flooded with water to hold boats- which meant that navel battles were hosted.The Romans liked watching gladiator fights better, but most people went to see plays on holidays. Most plays were held in the morning so that there would enough light, and also in the afternoon. For the Romans, public baths were for leisure, but also was for socializing. Public baths, called Thermae, allowed people to visit gardens, gyms, libraries, museums, promenades, and relax in massage rooms. The Romans loved parties and banquets as well.
Many people think that because the Romans were living too well, they let their civilization collapse. The Inca however, were hard- working, honest people who were defeated by the Spanish.

Conclusion

Overall, the Inca and the Romans have a lot in common, except for their language, customs, and religion. The Inca were more down-to-earth, prehaps, in their daily life. They didn't party all the time like Rome, and weren't interested in blood shed. Romans enjoyed watching battles, going into battles, and announcing battles. The Inca were a peaceful and religious people, but they didn't sacrifice too many humans. Life seemed boring for them however, and the Inca rarely traveled. Both civilizations are still remembered today.