Why was the mita system important to the Incan empire?
A. It helped Incan astronomers calculate the movements of the stars.
B. It allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor.
C. It helped the emperor keep strict control over faraway lands.
D. It kept order by forming a strict social hierarchy.
B. It allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor.
B. It allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor.
The mita system was important to the Incan empire because it allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor. Through the mita system, which was a form of labor tribute, the Incan government required its subjects to contribute a certain amount of labor for public projects and services. This system helped the Incan government maintain control over its vast territories and collect resources for various construction and administrative projects, such as road-building, agricultural development, and military campaigns.
To determine why the mita system was important to the Incan Empire, we can analyze the different options and consider their relevance.
Option A states that the mita system helped Incan astronomers calculate the movements of the stars. However, this is not accurate as the mita system was not directly related to astronomical observations.
Option B states that the mita system allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor. This answer is correct. The mita system was a form of labor tribute, where each community had to provide a certain number of workers to perform predefined tasks or projects for the state, such as construction, agricultural work or mining. This system was crucial for the functioning of the Incan economy and the ability of the government to collect resources and labor.
Option C states that the mita system helped the emperor keep strict control over faraway lands. This answer is also correct. The mita system not only provided labor and resources to the state, but it also served as a means of controlling the distant regions of the Incan Empire. By requiring communities to send workers for the mita, the emperor could establish direct control over various areas, ensuring loyalty and preventing rebellion.
Option D states that the mita system kept order by forming a strict social hierarchy. While the mita system did involve a social hierarchy, this option does not capture the main purpose of the system. The primary purpose of the mita was to provide labor and resources to the Incan government, rather than maintaining social order.
Therefore, the correct answer is B. The mita system allowed the government to collect taxes in the form of physical labor, and also C. It helped the emperor keep strict control over faraway lands.