JD says complex societies like the Incas didn't develop writing. Why not?

Question

JD says complex societies like the Incas didn't develop writing. Why not?

Answer 1

Lots of reasons that this could be:

1) The government didn't want messages being sent that could undermine the government.

2) There was written word but it was on a very temporary media like sand. (think etch-a-sketch).

3) The religion forbade it (think teddy bear problem)  

4) Other

The first situation brings to mind... fortune cookies.  In ancient times, China was occupied by the Mongals who didn't like a certain cake that the Chinese made, so notes were passed between citizens enclosed in those cakes about a rebel takeover which worked. Thus, fortune cookie.

Answer 2

Complexity is a real problem in archaeology and ancient history.  As a professional archaeologist with over 21 yrs of experience in both academic and private-sector work, I can say that the term "complex society" has a loose consensual definition which is appropriate for teaching undergraduates and explaining things on TV archaeology shows, but much less utility as a vehicle for scientific study.  There are some basic parameters which people generally agree upon with regard to complex societies.  These usually involve such things as monumental architecture, high levels of social stratification, the development of an organized military and political bureaucracy and... you guessed it... writing!  The Inca are, of course, an exception - but they did have a system of recording information which did not involve what we tend to think of as language.  

Having said all this - let's take a step back and look as what is really meant by "writing" in this context.  Take a linguistic anthropology course and you will learn that there are many many different things which fall under the perhaps over-generalized umbrella of "written language".  What this all boils down to is the cliche that "there are more ways than one to skin a cat".  

And the answer to your question is, then, why would they develop writing if they didn't need it?

Along teh same lines, the Inca also did not apparently use wheels for practical purposes, though they had knowledge of what a wheel is and how it could be used that extends back into prehistoric times. How could this be so?  Well, take a look at the geography of the Inca Empire and tell me what you think wheels could do for them which llamas could not.

Answer 3

When you write of "complex societies like the Incas", which societies are you talking about?

The Incas didn't have writing, but they did have a system of record-keeping using a system of knotted cords, called "quipus". These seem to have been useful in storing complex quantitative information with applications in taxation and astronomy.

The Maya and Mixtec peoples of Mexico had systems of writing.

The Chinese have had a sophisticated writing system for millennia. Similarly on the Indian sub-continent; the "Mesopotamia of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; in Egypt ...

(And then there are the as-yet undeciphered scripts of the Etruscans and of Easter Island  ....)

What the heck is "JD"? Why would he/she/it would make such a foolish statement?  My guess would be general disaffection, possibly caused by excessive alcohol the night before!