Incan Tribute System Midterm Review

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Questions and Answers

What was the Aztec tribute?

Obligated goods, services, and sacrifices given to the Aztecs from surrounding conquered nations.

How many times a year was tribute usually paid to the Aztecs?

2-4 times a year.

What was the Ayllu in the Andes?

Basic kin unit consisting of an extended web of households that holds land collectively.

What did the Treaty of Tordesillas accomplish?

Divided the New World between the Spanish and the Portuguese. Signup and view all the answers

What does syncretism refer to?

The combining of two or more religious, cultural, or societal traditions. Signup and view all the answers

What does Racial Democracy mean in Brazil?

The idea that regardless of color, all people have the same chances for social mobility. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Atahualpa?

The last sovereign emperor of the Inca Empire before Pizarro's conquest. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Inca Empire?

It was the largest empire in the pre-Columbian New World with a complex administrative structure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Requerimiento?

A declaration by the Spanish of its divine right to take possession of new world territories and subjugate natives. Signup and view all the answers

What agricultural method did the Aztecs use to expand farmland?

Chinampas. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of abolitionism in Brazil?

Slavery was officially abolished in 1888. Signup and view all the answers

What was Doña Marina known for?

She spoke many different languages. Signup and view all the answers

What was the practice of human sacrifices in Mesoamerican societies?

The ceremonial killing of a human as a tribute to a deity. Signup and view all the answers

What was Tenochtitlán?

The capital of the Aztec empire. Signup and view all the answers

Tlaxcala was an enemy of Cortés.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are huacas in Andes societies?

Sacred beings materialized in natural landscapes. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'slaves for hire' refer to?

Urban slaves who were hired out for work and allowed some freedom. Signup and view all the answers

What is the encomienda system?

A system of demanding tribute and forced labor. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz?

A Mexican nun and feminist writer. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the kuraka have in Andean societies?

An indigenous leader overseeing community order. Signup and view all the answers

Quilombos were prosperous slave communities formed in Brazil.

True Signup and view all the answers

The Columbian Exchange was a network of trade between the Old World and the ______.

Americas Signup and view all the answers

What is mahogany primarily used for?

Building expensive furniture and architectural amenities. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Mita' refer to in the Incan tribute system?

Labor draft with a set period of service Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'República de Indios'?

A legal identity imposed on natives by the Spanish Crown, making them subordinate. Signup and view all the answers

The 'Operation Amazon' encouraged conservation efforts in the Amazon region.

False Signup and view all the answers

What did Juán Gines de Sepúlveda argue regarding indigenous people?

They were 'natural slaves' Signup and view all the answers

Who was Diego de Landa?

A Franciscan monk known for converting Mayans and destroying Mayan religious texts. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Patronato Real' refer to?

Institutional connection between church and state Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Andean reciprocity'?

The Andean welfare state ensuring the elderly and poor do not go hungry. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'Castas' refers to racial categories used to identify Spaniards and indigenous people.

True Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Marianismo' reflect in society?

Expectations for women to embody traits of the Virgin Mary Signup and view all the answers

What is the Black Legend regarding Spain?

The depiction of Spain as a brutal and tyrannical imperial power. Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'Engenho' in the context of sugar production?

A large labor-intensive sugar cane estate Signup and view all the answers

Who is Guaman Poma de Ayala?

A Quechua nobleman known for denouncing Spanish mistreatment of Andean natives. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the 'Pipiltin'?

Nobility of the Aztec empire. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mita

Labor draft system within the Incan empire; required communities to provide labor for public projects.
Important for the construction of infrastructure like roads and irrigation, usually performed near home communities, primarily in agriculture.
Spanish colonizers adapted the mit'a for their mining interests, placing heavy burdens on indigenous communities.
System contributed to conflict with local populations as labor demands intensified and abuses increased.

República de Indios

Legal identity imposed by the Spanish crown to control and "civilize" indigenous populations post-conquest.
Viewed by Spaniards as a means to protect natives; however, many natives resented this paternalistic governance.
Established segregated Indian towns with its own governance and communal lands, but limited natives' freedoms and autonomy.
Success in core regions contrasted with resistance in peripheral areas by less stratified tribes.

Operation Amazon

Initiative aimed at attracting investment to the Amazon region while providing tax incentives for donors.
Part of Brazil's Estado Novo modernization policies (1964-1986) that facilitated large-scale development projects.
Highlighted the tension between environmental destruction and economic development in the Amazon.

Juán Gines de Sepúlveda vs. Bartolomé de Las Casas

Philosophical dispute in the 16th century regarding the rights and treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
Sepúlveda viewed natives as 'natural slaves,' while de Las Casas advocated for their rights and humanity.
The debate, which took place in Valladolid in 1550, laid groundwork for future human rights considerations.

Diego de Landa

Franciscan monk known for both promoting and repressing Mayan culture; authored a significant work on Mayan religion.
Instrumental in the destruction of Mayan religious texts during the Inquisition, equating indigenous beliefs with threats to Spanish authority.
His actions reflected wider Spanish fears of non-Christian religions, resulting in severe repression.

Patronato Real

System linking the Spanish crown and Roman Catholic Church by appointing bishops, thereby exerting control over religious practices in the colonies.
Established conflicts over authority between clergy and the crown, impacting colonial governance and religious life.
Role of church varied, with some clergy supporting dictatorships in Latin America while others championed social justice.

Andean Reciprocity

Cultural principle ensuring the welfare of the community, ensuring that the elderly and poor were cared for.
Central to Andean values, emphasizing interdependence between humans and nature.
Contrasts with Western individualism and is often overlooked by Eurocentric perspectives.

Castas

Racial classification system categorizing individuals based on ethnicity, privileging Europeans over indigenous and mixed-race populations.
Enforced social stratification, discrimination, and limited access to elite institutions for mestizos and other non-white groups.
Contributed to enduring racial hierarchies still observable in contemporary Latin America.

Marianismo

Cultural ideal rooted in Roman Catholicism that promotes virtues associated with the Virgin Mary, creating pressure on women to conform to specific gender roles.
Society dictated women's behavior, emphasizing chastity, motherhood, and subordination to male relatives.
This double standard led to social pressures that were often hypocritical and unfairly punitive toward women.

Black or White Legend

Historical narratives depicting Spain as either a brutal oppressor (Black Legend) or a bringer of progress and civilization (White Legend).
Both legends emerged from Spain's reconquest and colonization strategies, influencing perceptions of Spanish colonialism.
Reflects ongoing debates about the ethical implications and consequences of colonialism.

Sugar Mill (Engenho)

Large estate focused on sugar production, requiring significant labor input and creating divisions among workers based on skills.
High demand for sugar led to exploitation of enslaved labor, with many workers facing harsh conditions and high mortality rates.
The system perpetuated dependency on transatlantic slave trade and created social hierarchies among laborers.

Guaman Poma de Ayala

Quechua noble known for chronicling indigenous experiences and advocating for the rights of Andean peoples post-Spanish conquest.
Proposed a hybrid model of governance that respected Inca traditions while integrating European technologies and Christianity.
His work serves as an early example of indigenous resistance to colonial oppression and calls for reform.

Pipiltin

Nobility class within the Aztec empire comprising high-ranking officials, priests, and military leaders.
Social hierarchy was marked by attire and privilege, signaling wealth, power, and cultural influence.
Internal conflicts could arise within this hierarchy, reflecting the complexities of leadership and governance in Aztec society.

Aztec Tribute

System where conquered populations were required to provide goods, services, and human sacrifices to the Aztecs.
Demonstrated the Aztec's power and ability to control large territories without direct military occupation.
Imposed social burdens on commoners, leading to increased dissatisfaction and eventual alliances with Spanish forces against the Aztec empire.### Ayllu
Basic kin unit in the Andes consisting of extended families that collectively manage land and resources.
Traditional community model in the Andes, facilitating education and self-sufficiency through farming and trading.
Each ayllu has a designated parcel of land, fostering reciprocal obligations among its members.
Continues to exist in modern Andean societies, often linked to local huacas (sacred objects or places).
Provides social security and resilience against external challenges; however, struggles in times of natural disasters.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Established in 1494 by papal decree to divide the New World between Spain and Portugal.
Created a longitudinal boundary favoring Spain in the west and Portugal in the east amid expanding territorial claims.
Highlighted the influence of the Catholic Church and the consolidation of power among Iberian states.
Ignored Indigenous rights, setting a precedent for European colonial domination.
Marked the beginning of two centuries of Iberian exploration, with lasting impact on Indigenous cultures.

Syncretism

Merging of religious and cultural traditions, notably among indigenous people adopting Catholicism while retaining aspects of their own beliefs.
Reflected in the similarities between indigenous and Catholic narratives of good/evil, fostering comprehension.
Example: Indigenous association of Catholic saints with their traditional deities, creating a blended religious practice.
Despite partial acceptance of Catholicism, tensions arose with missionaries due to retained indigenous customs, differing practices leading to conflict.

Racial Democracy

Concept suggesting equal opportunities for social mobility across racial lines, despite Brazil's history of miscegenation.
Brazil's diverse population stemmed from Portuguese immigration, the slave trade, and subsequent free black communities.
Absence of formalized racial segregation contrasts with systemic discrimination reflected in social hierarchies.
Persistent issues of racism and inequality, post-abolition of slavery in 1888, affecting Afro-Brazilian communities.

Atahualpa

Last emperor of the Inca Empire, facing internal struggles during the Spanish conquest.
His rise to power involved a civil war against his half-brother, Huascar, amid external threats.
The divine right granted him authority, mirroring European monarchy traditions.
Internal division during conquest weakened the Inca resistance against the Spanish.

Tawantinsuyu (Inca Empire)

Largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas, flourishing from the 13th century until Spanish conquest in 1572.
Administrative hub located in modern Peru, featuring vast networks of roads and management for 9 million people.
Notable for structured bureaucracy without wheels, markets, or writing; reliant on skilled runners for communication.
Internal succession conflicts contributed to vulnerability during the Spanish invasion.

Requerimiento

Declaration asserting Spanish divine rights to conquer and subjugate Indigenous territories.
Served as a justification and warning to Indigenous peoples about Spanish intentions during colonization.
Backed by the Spanish crown and the Catholic Church, leveraging religious motives to assert dominance.
Utilized to legitimize acts of violence against those resisting conversion or domination.

Chinampas

Innovative agricultural method embraced by Mesoamerican societies, especially the Aztecs, to cultivate land in marshy regions.
Provided a means to expand arable land around Tenochtitlán, crucial for sustaining large urban populations.
Cheaper labor from lower classes managed chinampa cultivation, leading to economic growth and agricultural efficiency.
Spanish conquest strategies included cutting off resources linked to chinampas, thus exacerbating Aztec vulnerabilities.

Abolitionism in Brazil

Slavery in Brazil was abolished in 1888, solidifying a long evolution from earlier abolitionist movements.
Economic changes, new labor forms, and British pressure played key roles in the abolition process.
Slavery's formal end did not eliminate racial prejudice or social hierarchies, ongoing issues in contemporary Brazil.

Doña Marina

Known as La Malinche, she played a critical role in Hernán Cortés's conquest as a translator and negotiator.
Brought into the Spanish fold after being kidnapped; became a symbol of intercultural dynamics and conflict.
Facilitated communication between Aztecs and Spanish, significantly influencing colonial success.

Human Sacrifices in Latin America

Ceremonial practice among the Aztecs and Mayans as offerings to deities for favor and fortune.
Sacrifices predominantly involved lower social classes, reinforcing existing hierarchies within Mesoamerican societies.
Viewed as an act of honor by indigenous people, while the Spanish labeled it barbaric, using it to justify colonization.

Tenochtitlán

Aztec capital with a populace exceeding 200,000, notable for urban development and political significance in Mesoamerica.
Structured with ethnic neighborhoods and tribute systems, showcasing distinct engineering and urban planning.
Its geographical layout made it vulnerable to sieges, leading to food and water blockades by Spanish forces.

Tlaxcala

Allies of Hernán Cortés who significantly contributed to the conquest of Tenochtitlán.
Their prior conflicts with the Aztecs offered strategic advantages for Cortés in building military alliances.### King of Tlaxcala and Cortes
Tlaxcala's king provided refuge to Spanish conquistadors and promised assistance in the conquest of Tenochtitlan.
Conditions for support included perpetual exemption from tribute, a share of spoils, and control of two bordering provinces.
The aid from Tlaxcalans was crucial for Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs and in subsequent campaigns in Guatemala.
Betrayal of expectation: Tlaxcalans sought rewards for their assistance rather than genuine support for the Spaniards.

Huaca

Huacas are sacred beings manifest in natural landscapes, viewed as divine representations in Andean culture.
Impressive natural features, like mountains and bodies of water, were considered homes for these sacred beings.
Andean religion incorporated local deities into the Inca belief system, contrasting with efforts by Spanish colonizers to erase indigenous faith.
The Incan nobility integrated local deities rather than eliminating them, unlike the forced monotheism implemented by Pizarro’s forces.
Huacas remained significant due to their non-destructible nature, contributing to the persistence of indigenous beliefs even under colonial pressure.

Slaves for Hire

The demographic shift in Brazil from rural to urban increased reliance on hired slaves for labor in cities.
Some urban slaves earned wages and retained a portion, enabling financial autonomy and social mobility.
Urban wages allowed slaves to save for their freedom or that of others, promoting upward mobility unlike rural counterparts.
Unlike in the U.S., Brazil's slave economy required constant importation of slaves, leading to an unstable market.
Slaves in urban settings often looked down on those in rural roles, prompting a social divide among enslaved populations.

Encomienda

The encomienda was a system granting Spanish colonists authority over native labor in exchange for religious guidance.
Encomenderos were responsible for managing both tribute collection and religious services for indigenous people.
This system reinforced governmental organization in the New World and contributed to economic growth while advancing aggressive religious agendas.
Conflicts arose between indigenous peoples and encomenderos, with advocates like Bartolomé de Las Casas opposing abuses within the system.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a Mexican nun, renowned as an early feminist and child prodigy.
Her writings exposed the hypocrisy of men's views on women, challenging societal norms of her time.
She leveraged her position as a nun to gain education that was typically inaccessible to women.
Sor Juana’s outspoken nature regarding gender inequality astounded her contemporaries, but led to conflicts with colonial authorities.
The archbishop of Mexico censured her, ultimately forcing her to abandon her academic pursuits for religious practice.

Kuraka

Kurakas were indigenous leaders in the Inca Empire responsible for community governance and dispute resolution.
Their elevated status allowed them to avoid manual labor, reflecting societal hierarchies in Andean communities.
The role of kurakas showcased a mix of local governance and respect for reciprocity essential for community survival.
Incan rule imposed additional pressures on kurakas, pitting their community loyalty against Inca authority and governance.

Quilombos

Quilombos were communities formed by runaway slaves in Brazil, with Palmares led by Zumbi being notably famous.
The brutal conditions of slavery prompted many to escape, seeking refuge in these communities.
Quilombos served as protection against violence and oppression while highlighting the inhumanity of slavery.
Slave owners viewed quilombos as insubordination and sought to suppress them, leading to violent confrontations.

Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange was a trade network linking the Old World with the Americas, exchanging crops, animals, people, and diseases.
It inaugurated a period of globalization, fundamentally altering international relations and economic policies.
The Exchange improved food production globally but also led to negative impacts such as biodiversity loss and native population decimation.
Debate persists over whether the Columbian Exchange’s overall effects were positive or negative on global history.

Mahogany

Mahogany wood is prized for luxury furniture and architectural uses, leading to extensive logging in the Amazon.
Deforestation for mahogany alters the Amazon's ecological balance and contributes to environmental degradation.
The trade-off between economic interests in mahogany and environmental conservation incites political conflict.
Environmentalists advocate for rainforest preservation, often facing violent opposition from logging interests.

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Test your knowledge on the Incan tribute system, specifically focusing on the concept of mit'a. This quiz will cover the historical context and significance of labor drafts in the Inca civilization, as well as their impact on public works and community cooperation.