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Contrast social structures of inca and aztecs
Contrast social structures of inca and aztecs
Contrast social structures of inca and aztecs
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The Incas and Socialism
During the history of early America, one of the most well-known peoples of South America were the Incas. The Inca Empire was one of the most advanced in America when the Spanish began exploring the Pacific coast of South America in the 1520s. One must imagine the shock of the Spanish Conquistadores lead by Francisco Pizarro when they marched into Incan towns and cities. Incan language, culture, technology, and social structure was very unique and very different from their own. Even today, modern historians find it difficult to place the Inca into a specific political and economic system.
The dominant thinking by historians such as George Murdock in the 20th Century is that the Inca were a socialist society. At first glance, it would seem to appear so. There was very little individuality and there was a large emphasis put on working collectively for the state. However, when one looks at the full extent of the Inca social structure, one sees that only in a local context could the Incas ever be called a socialist society. Rather, the Inca were a society with a complex social hierarchy with only a communal economic system at the local level. There were no socialist elements in their centralized government, which was essentially politically authoritarian.
Though socialism is an important term in the modern world few people have an exact understanding of what it means. It is usually merged into the definitions of Communism and Marxism though it is a very different economic and political system. According to Mastrianna &Hailstones book, Basic Economics, "Socialism involves strict government regulation of production and distribution and is advocated as a way to pro...
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...yze the social hierarchy of the Inca Empire, which counted on distinct levels of class to conduct certain levels of work, one can only conclude that they were not a socialist society.
Works Cited
Malpass, Michael Andrew. Daily Life in the Inca Empire. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1996. Print.
Nishi, Dennis. The Inca Empire. San Diego: Lucent, 2000. Print.
Moore, Sally F. Power and Property in Inca Peru. 1st ed. New York Ctiy: Columbia UP, 1958. Print.
Mastrianna, Frank V., and Thomas J. Hailstones. Basic Economics. 11th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College Pub., 1998. Print
Galbraith, John Kenneth, and Nicole Salinger. Almost Everyone's Guide to Economics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1978. Print.
Harris, Kevin R. "WAS THE INCA EMPIRE A SOCIALIST STATE." (2006): 55-60. Web. 5 June 2010. .
Prior to the Inca empire expansion of 1438-1493, gender roles were governed by the societal concept of gender parallelism. The Incas allowed this idea to become the foundation of equality in matters such as religion, economics, sexuality, and labor. However, the dynamic faltered as the Inca Empire began expanding at an aggressive rate. Culturally ingrained gender parallelism was manipulated for the success of imperial goals. The Inca empire expansion stripped women of the established autonomy gender parallelism provided, created a conquest hierarchy, and altered the entirety of Inca cultural practices for the sake of a larger empire.
The Aztecs and Incas served an important role in the primal Native American civilizations. They were similar and different with the treatment of women, the economy, and intellectual achievements. Economically, both civilizations used trade, tribute, and agriculture to build their economy. However, the Aztecs had a more mixed economy, used trade more frequently than the Incas, and had a merchant class whereas the Incan civilization had more governmental control. Intellectually, both civilizations achieved in fields such as architecture, and art; however, the Incan empire had a wider range of achievements, disregarding their lack of writing. Throughout both civilizations, women had a tough life and were underappreciated but comparing the two, Incan women had it better off due to parallel descent.
Brue, S. L., Flynn, S. M., & McConnell, C. R. (2011).Economics principles, problems and policies. (19 ed.). New
The Inca Empire Janos Gyarmati’s Paria la Viexa and an expanding empire: Provincial centers in the political economy of the Inca Empire proved that the Inca’s built an empire unlike any other. From 1440 to 1532 A.D., the Inca Empire dominated the Americas. Known as “the fastest growing and largest territorial empire”(Gyarmati 37) of its time, the Inca Empire left a mark with their complex, perpetual and innovative economic, road, and settlement system. The Inca’s were advanced for their time, however, they lacked a system that would guarantee the survival of their kin. In order to strive, for the long-term, the Inca’s created provincial centers that would ensure their growth and economy for the generations to come.
them. A logical explanation can be granted through the mixture of Peru’s society and the
The Incas are much more advanced. Labor specialization was common, especially in the large densely populated areas like Cuzco. The Incas made roads, irrigation channels, fortresses, and mines. They used crop rotation, terracing and other advanced agricultural methods. These civilizations had retainers and all had slaves, usually slaves from other villages that they had fought in wars.
The Inca Empire, the massive nation that extended 2,500 miles along the western coast of South America and had a population of over 7 million at its peak. It included all of what is now Ecuador and Peru and most of Chile. Known as “The Children of the Sun”, they excelled at craftsmanship, weaving, and culture (“Children of the Sun”). A very religious people, they worshiped the Sun as their supreme god and held religious festivals monthly to appease these gods. Although they did not value it aside from its beautiful appearance, the Inca Empire was home to millions of pounds of solid gold and silver. The Inca had no use for it except to use it to craft decorations and statues. In fact, an Inca citizen valued cloth more than they valued gold or silver. Their collapse would be brought about because of the Spanish invasion, a brutal civil war that weakened the empire, and deadly disease brought over from Europe.
The Incas cared for everyone in their kingdom; supplies and health needs were distributed to all who needed the attention, regardless of monetary standings, as long as they worked. Laziness was not heard of among the Incas. Work had to be done and everyone pitched in to help, even the lords. Their system cared for everyone and made a seemingly happier, better kingdom. The rich were not allowed to wear fancy, elaborate clothing because they were aware that the poor members of society could not indulge in such extravagance. The only exception to this rule were “the rulers and the headmen, who, to maintain their dignity, were allowed great freedom and privilege”
Kroon, George E. Macroeconomics The Easy Way. New York: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., 2007. Print.
The Inca was a tribe that had lived in South Eastern Coast of South America in what is now Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and northern Chile, also known as the Andes Mountains. The Inca also settled in Ingapirca. The Inca capitol, Cuzco, was founded in 1200. The Incan empire became the largest empire in America. The Inca tribe was built in war and conquest. As they conquered many areas their population rose to over 9 million people.
Stuart, Schwartz B. "World of the Incas, Main Page." World of the Incas, Main Page. History World International, 2002. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. .
Patterson, Thomas C. "Tribes, Chiefdoms, and Kingdoms in the Inca Empire.” Power Relations and State Formation (1987): 1-15,117-127.
Incas are known by many people. They had their own way of doing things and ideas about life. The Inca were part of an empire knowns as The Incan Empire. It was the largest empire in pre columbian america. It could have possibly even have been the largest empire in the world in the early 16th century. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was located in what is now known as Peru. At first the Inca incorportated a major part of South America. The Inca had many troubles because they had a major lack of the things that would help them become civilized easier. They had a lack of wheels, animals that could help them work, the lack of a written language, the lack of knowledge for steel, etc. Many say that if they would have
O'Sullivan, A., & Sheffrin, S. (2005). Economics. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Sullivan, A., & Steven M., (2003). Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Pearson Prentice Hal