Inca Traditions Today

Much of the Inca traditions still survive among many parts of South America, especially Peru. Quechua is still spoken today by about 13 million people in isolated villages in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Northern Chile, Argentina, and South Colombia. Today a majority of Peruvians would fall in the Mestizo category. The Mestizo race was created during the year the Incas have been conquered by the Spanish. Mestizo is a person of part- American Indian and part- European heritage. About 45 percent of the people in Peru are Native American, 37 percent are Mestizo, and 15 percent are European descendants. The social organization in the Andeans region is still based on the ayllu where work, marriage, and land-ownership are centered in a complex extended family organization. Curing ceremonies that were used by the Incas to cure the sick are used today in Peru. The clothing styles that are currently worn by the Andean were worn by their Incan ancestors. Much of the jewelry in Peru is made with gold, silver, and spandylus shell. Ancient figures are commonly used to make jewelry designs, for example the tumi. The tumi is a ceremonial knife that was used in Inca sacrifices and also today one of the most popular designs in Peruvian jewelry.

"Inca History & Culture and its Effect on Peruvians Today." Colored-stone.com. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. .

"Inca (Quechua)." MNSU. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. .