Inca+-+Socio-Political+Structure

Social Structure
 * Inca society was strictly organized from the emperor down to the peasants ("[]")


 * 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)
 * Inca political and social life were infused with religious meaning (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * The Incas had a very clear hierocratic social structure (Burland 19)


 * 1) Ruler (Sapa Inca) and his wives (the Coyas) who had supreme control over the empire (Burland 19)
 * 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)
 * 1) Sorcerers, farmers, herding families and conscripts (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)
 * Was considered a god (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * Ruled from his court at Cuzco (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * Formally married to his sister, the Coya (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)


 * Society was primarily divided into nobility and commoners (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * Nobility were greatly privileged (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * The closer your relationship with the Sapa Inca the higher position you held (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * 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")
 * Commoners could marry first cousins ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")
 * Nobles could marry half-sisters ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")
 * 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")
 * Most people, commoners, were monogamous due to economic necessity ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")


 * Very strong ideology of equality among the sexes even though men and women had specific roles in society (http://history-world.org/inca.htm)
 * 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)


 * Incas forced conquered people to learn the Inca culture and disregarded their culture and beliefs (Smith 57 - 62)

Political Organization
 * The Inca Empire had a totalitarian style government (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)
 * The Sapa Inca was head of the government and head of the state religion (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)
 * Oppressed the Inca people (Hyams 193)


 * Inca Empire divided into four territorial provinces called Suyu ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")
 * Chinchaysuyu (NW) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm)
 * Antisuyu (NE) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm)
 * Qontisuyu (SW) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm)
 * Qollasuyu (SE) (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3.htm)
 * Four provinces met at Cuzco (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)
 * Each province had its own capital and governor ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")
 * Governor (Apos) was a 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")
 * 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")
 * At the level below, ten foreman each supervised a total of 100 peasants ("http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0213440-00")


 * Incas had to pay high tributes to the government (Bernand 31 - 33)
 * Collected a large percentage of everything they produced (Bernand 31 - 33)

Central Beliefs and Values
 * Sapa Inca was a demigod (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/incas/collier.htm)
 * Believed in reincarnation, therefore obeyed the Inca moral code (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire.php)
 * Ama sulua – do not steal (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire.php)
 * Ama llulla – do not lie (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire.php)
 * Ama quella – do not be lazy (http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/i/n/c/inca_empire.php)
 * Children were sacrificed to the gods every year (Bernand 31 - 33)
 * Children of commoners (Bernand 31 - 33)

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