Machu Picchu
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History
Empire
Life as a Inca Child
Inca children were treated harshly to toughen them. They were severely punished if they misbehaved.
At about the age of 10 the most beautiful girls were selected to be chosen women or Aqllakuna. They were taken from their families and sent to a house of chosen women or Aqllawasi. They were taught the Inca religion and skills like cooking and weaving. When they were about 14 some of the girls became priestesses or they married important Incas or even the Sapa Inca himself (the Sapa Inca often had hundreds of wives).
Girls left behind learned skills like cooking and weaving from their mothers. When they reached their teens they were old enough to marry.
Boys learned farming, fishing and other trades. Noble boys had tutors called Amataus who trained them to rule. When they reached the age of 14 boys were given a loincloth which symbolized the fact that they were now young men.