The Inca around 1500

Commerce and crafts

The Incas made many handmade items. The most important items were the multicoloured fabrics and tapestries. The pieces woven by the Incas were very beautiful and were highly prized. They were often given as weddings gifts. The Incas also made many types of jewellery and decorations with precious metals like gold and silver. The Incas were also very skilled in pottery-making. They made clay objects for everyday use as well as for religious rituals, such as containers for holding liquids.

Trading and bartering

Among the Incas, most goods were traded by the emperor, who made sure each region had everything it needed. However, farmers could also trade goods at the city markets, especially for precious items like gold, silver or feathers. The Incas bartered because they did not have a currency.

AuthorAlexandre Lanoix

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[glossary slug=’trade’]
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