Socio-Political+Structure+-+Inca


 * Inca society was strictly organized from the emperor and royal family down to the peasants ("http://ca.encarta.msn.com/text_761560004__1/Inca_Empire.html")
 * Inca nobility were descendants of the emperor (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)


 * Held the most important government, religious and military posts (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)

2. The High Priest and the Army Commander in Chief (Burland 19) 3. Military, temple priests, administrators and army generals (Burland 19) 4. Merchants and Middle Class (Burland 19) • Artisans, musicians, army captains, architects and quipucamayoc (Incan accountants) (Burland 19) 5. Sorcerers, farmers, herding families and conscripts (Burland 19)
 * Inca political and social life was infused with religious meaning (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * The Incas had a very clear hierocratic social structure (Burland 19) Ruler (Sapa Inca) and his wives (the Coyas) had supreme control over the empire (Burland 19)

• The position of Sapa Inca was a hereditary position, but sometime given to those with superior political or military ability (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm) o Was considered a god (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o Ruled from his court at Cuzco (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o Formally married to his sister, the Coya (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)

• Very strong ideology of equality among the sexes even though men and women had specific roles in society (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o Inca people recognized parallel descent in all property (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) • Women passed rights and property to daughters (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) • Men passed rights and property to sons (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)

• Society was primarily divided into nobility and commoners (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o Nobility were greatly privileged (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o The closer your relationship with the Sapa Inca the higher position you held (http://history-world.org/inca.htm) o All the nobility were from one of the ten royal ayllus (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)

• Each ayllu was made up of several patrilineal extended families ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")

• Villages were endogamous and composed of two ayllus ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")

• Marriage was within a village ("http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2014440-h")

• Marriage was permitted between family members but differed according to class ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o Commoners could marry first cousins ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o Nobles could marry half-sisters ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o The Sapa Inca could marry his sister ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")

• Polygamous marriages accepted and common and was an indication of your social status ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o Most people, commoners, were monogamous due to economic necessity ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") Political Organization

• The Inca Empire had a totalitarian style government (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm) o The Sapa Inca was head of the government and head of the state religion (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)

• Inca Empire divided into four territorial provinces called Suyu ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o Chinchaysuyu (NW) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm) o Antisuyu (NE) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm) o Qontisuyu (SW) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm) o Qollasuyu (SE) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm) o Four provinces met at Cuzco (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm) o Each province had its own capital and governor ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") • Governor (Apos) was blood relative of the Sapa Inca (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)

• Each Suyu divided further ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") o Serving under each governor were ten district leaders (tukuyrikuq) ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") • Each oversaw about 10,000 peasants ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")

o At the level below, ten foreman each supervised a total of 100 peasants ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00") Central Beliefs and Values • Sapa Inca was a demigod (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm) • Believed in reincarnation, therefore obeyed the Incan moral code (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire) o Ama sulua – do not steal(http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire) o Ama llulla – do not lie (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire) o Ama quella – do not be lazy (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire)