Quipucamayocs (Quechua
khipu kamayuq, "khipu-authority"), the accountants of
Tawantinsuyu, created and deciphered the quipu knots. Quipucamayocs were capable of performing simple
mathematics, basic
arithmetic operations such as
adding,
subtracting,
multiplying, and
dividing information for the
indigenous people. This included keeping track of
mita, a form of
taxation. The Quipucamayocs also tracked the type of
labor being performed, maintained a record of
economic output, and ran a
census that counted everyone from infants to "old blind men over 80". The system was also used to keep track of the calendar. According to Guaman Poma Quipucamayocs could "read" the Quipu with their eyes closed.
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