Untitled Quiz

Inca Oral Traditions

• Native Andeans relied on oral traditions for their past and identities in the 15th and 16th centuries
• Specialized storytellers (named specialists) were in charge of remembering and reciting major events within lineages
• Narratives were often sung at ritual events
• Stories focused on expansion, construction, and diplomacy, featuring folk heroes whose names became paradigms of social values (e.g., courage, virtue, hospitality)
• These tales served as both propaganda and instruction for Andean rulers
• Rulers sometimes spent significant time listening to the narratives
• Examples include Guayna Capac

Andean Names and Memories

• Quechua, an Andean language, was not written, leading to various spellings in Spanish records
• Spaniard chroniclers wrote Quechua phonetically, causing varied spellings for the same words
• Stories were passed down across generations
• The stories were often repetitive and contradictory, making it difficult to create a clear and concise historical record
• Betanzos attempted to organize the accounts by lineage (earliest to latest)
• He used the European dynastic model.
• His accounts, however, introduced distortions, and later influenced other chroniclers

Positional Inheritance

• A system of naming that assigned individuals to names sequentially through time, based in social standing (repetitive assignments and name-taking based on age)
• New names were bestowed on people who were judged as appropriate for their tasks
• Names often represent a role, responsibility, or accomplishments of a lineage or a group.
• Names were passed down from one person to another, preserving collective memories and deeds.
• Stories, recited and sung, sometimes were accompanied by dancing and portrayal
• The collective deeds were preserved and passed down through oral narratives
• The focus was on the name rather than the individual
• Famous names became titles
• The focus on names maintained social, political, and familial positions, which were re-created.
• Individuals tended to maintain status and enhance the title through their actions .

Case Examples of Positional Inheritance

• Jayanque (later Jayanca) in the 1530s
• Minimisal, (second name Enequesiquel) 1530-1560s
• Andean individuals often changed names as roles or circumstances changed.

Interpretation Concerns

• The biases of chroniclers and the cultural context of oral traditions should be considered
• The socio-religious contexts of the sources, the biases of the authors, and varying intended audiences affected representations of the past.