WHAT METHODS DID THE INCAS USE TO UNIFY THEIR LARGE EMPIRE?
The Incas used a combination of military, administrative, economic, and cultural methods to unify their large empire:
1. Military conquest: The Incas were skilled warriors and had a strong and disciplined army. They expanded their empire by conquering the neighboring tribes and city-states through military force. They often used diplomacy, offering gifts and negotiations before resorting to war, but if these attempts failed, they would subdue their enemies through battle.
2. Administrative organization: The Incas established an efficient and centralized administrative system to control and govern their empire. The empire was divided into four provinces, each with its own governor. The provinces were further divided into smaller units, making it easier for the Inca rulers to manage the diverse and dispersed territories. Local tributes and a system of laws enforced by local officials maintained order and control.
3. Road and communication systems: The Incas built an extensive network of roads, which connected the various regions of their vast empire. This allowed for the efficient movement of troops, officials, messengers, and goods, facilitating communication and control. The Incas also used a unique communication system called quipu, which involved using ropes with knots in different colors and arrangements to record and transmit information.
4. Mitma system: The Incas used a resettlement policy known as "Mitma" to integrate conquered populations into the empire. They forcibly relocated people from their home territories to new areas, where they were expected to assimilate into the Incan culture and assimilate the local culture and practices. This approach not only ensured loyalty to the Inca state but also facilitated the spread of Incan culture and language across the empire.
5. Economic control: The Incas controlled the resources and production of their empire through a centrally planned economy. They collected taxes in the form of labor and goods from the conquered territories and redistributed them according to the needs of the various regions. The Incas also built extensive irrigation systems and terraced agricultural fields, increasing productivity and supporting the growing empire.
6. Religious and cultural assimilation: The Incas believed that their ruler was a descendant of the sun god, Inti, which gave him divine authority over his subjects. The Inca religion was used to legitimize their rule and incorporate conquered people into the empire. The Incas allowed the conquered people to maintain their local religious practices but required them to worship the Inca gods as well. They built monumental structures, such as the Temple of the Sun at Cusco, to demonstrate their might and cultural superiority, which further emphasized their power over the conquered people.
These various methods helped the Incas to maintain control and unity across their vast empire, which extended along the Andes from present-day Colombia to Chile and Argentina.