Inka Suspension Bridges: Engineering A Pre-Industrial Construction

In collaboration with the Embassy of Peru, Washington, DC

Abstract

Inka culture relied on an extensive network of roads and bridges to connect the various regions in the high Andes. Though the road system has been studied in some detail, scholars have largely neglected the role of suspension bridges. These functional works enabled the expansion of the empire and often dictated the location of roads, tambos, and other Inka sites. The role of bridges in Andean history raises important questions and demands greater attention from historians. Due to the detailed chronicles of the construction process, suspension bridges provide a unique opportunity for understanding the organization of construction in the Inka Empire. This visual lecture draws on primary source material to identify important bridges, explore their origins, and pose questions for future research in Inka engineering. Broader lessons from the study of pre-industrial construction argue for transdisciplinary approaches to understanding the built environment.

About our speaker

John Ochsendorf is the Class of 1942 Professor of Architecture and Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT, where he directs research in the history of construction and the design of more sustainable infrastructure. Trained at Cornell, Princeton and the University of Cambridge, his work combines engineering, archaeology and art history in collaboration with other disciplines. He has won numerous awards for research in structural engineering and architecture, including a Fulbright Grant, a Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, and a MacArthur Fellowship. Ochsendorf served as Director of the American Academy in Rome from 2017-2020 and is currently the director of the MIT Morningside Academy for Design.

About the lecture series

The Distinguished Lecture in Art of the Ancient Americas is an annual event aimed at drawing attention to the rich visual culture of Mesoamerica and the Andes. The series fosters collaboration between the university and its partners in the arts and museums communities. The lecture is free of charge.

Mason Hall Auditorium

Reception 6:15

Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus.

This lecture is free of charge and open to all. RSVP Lisa DeLeonardis: 410-516-5528, [email protected]