Influence on Society

Begining of The Incas

The Inca Empire flourished on the west coast of South America from 13th to 16th century. They conquered this region after a series of wars against Indians tribes. The Incas first came on the Peruvian scene somewhere around 1300 A.D. They were then just a small group. During their first two hundreds years they were competitors of small tribes. At the time of Emperor Pachacuti Incas became the most powerful nation in South America. And they continued to remained same for another hundred years. After his death his son Topa Inca continued to conquest both to north and south direction. Under his reign the Empire had spread into Central Chile and Northern Ecuador. The next Inca Emperor Huayna Capac got hold of the remaining Andes. He even spread his conquest up to Bolivia. Before he died he separated his reign into two parts to be ruled by his two sons Huascar and Atahualpa. Sad thing was that still after his death there was a great civil war between the two brothers. At 1532 Atahuallpa got his brother killed and became the Emperor of Inca. At the same time ( on 1532) Spaniards arrived.

How did the Incas influence society ?

As the Incas conquered the west coast of South America they continued to influnce society. As they became a stronger and more powerful nation their influence on smaller societies became greater. After each area had been conquered the Incas would take control of the area by imposing their language, organizational skills t and general way of life to the people.

Social Classes of the Incan Empire

The Inca society was known as the ayllu, this is where families were living together and sharing land, animals and the crops. The ayllus was different sizes, from small farming villages to large towns. Everyone belonged to an ayllu; a person was born into the community and died in it. The choice of who you married was determined by the ayllu, if can Inca man didn't marry by the age of 20 the head of the ayllu selected the partner for him. Most of the Incas were farmers who worked for the land, the emperor and the other nobles had many wives, the emperor usually married his sister as his main wife. A normal house was a one room rectangular building of adobe brick or stone with a thatched and without windows or chimneys. They slept on the floor around a stove which was made of stone cemented with mud. The upper class houses were much larger and more rooms.

There were four Inca social classes:
1. Inca- Sapa Inca
2. Royalty - Son of the Sapa Inca - The Auqyi, Wife of Spa Inca - The Coya First generations of royal relatives
3. Nobility- Nobility of Blood: Other members of Royal relatives - Royal Panaceas (las Pañacas). Nobility of Privilege: They who achieved distinction from educational and training fields.

4. Ayllu General People - Hatun Runa, Peoples of newly conquered races- Mitamaes, Servers of the Inca and Empire, including prisonars - Yanaconas

Family unit
In an ayllu all members lived together. They had combined land and they cultivated together. Their ancestors body was kept in a place and they ( all descendants ) preyed for him. On any big occasion they get together and worship their common ancestor. Even at present days ayllu is a very important family and social unit.

Women
As you see in the modern world, women were very important in Inca family. They took care of the children and also of household jobs.

Growing up
At seven or eight children were expected to help their parents. Boys began to herd llamas and alpacas, while little girls ran errands for their mothers.
Between the ages of ten and thirteen a boy began to work with his father in the fields. Children of farmers and craftsman began to work with their father when they became 10 years of old. At about the age of fourteen he was taxed as an adult. At fifteen he had to contribute his share of labor to the village mita. By helping and imitating their parents, the children of farmers and craftsmen learned all the skills they needed for life as adults.
When a girl reached maturity, there was a ceremony to introduce her into womanhood. During the ceremony the girl remained shut up in her home. She feasted for three days. First two days she ate nothing and on third day she could chew some kernels of corn. On the fourth day her mother bathed her and then she put on a new dress. A feast was held for her. She waited on the relatives in the feast and her most important uncle gave her a permanent name.