essay

Inca decimal administration in the Lake Titicaca region

inca and aztec states, 1400-1800 : anthropology and historyNew York • Published In 1982 • Pages: 119-151

By: Julien, Catherine J..

Abstract
Catherine Julien argues that the Inca curbed the power of local elites both by reducing their discretionary control over citizen's labor and by replacing possible dissidents. Since even decimal officials were obligated to participate in public works, albeit in inverse proportion to their rank, their relative status was symbolized in other ways. The hierarchical system, effaced heterogeneous regional variation in local leaders' claim to positions and paved the way for an imperial class system. Julien thus emphasizes how decimal administration would have rationalized state control, even in provinces from which populations were not removed by MITIMA assignments to other locations. Although Julien's evidentiary base differs little from that of Pease and Murra, …her analysis differs markedly. Whereas Murra discounts decimal administration because of its scant mention in the VISITAS, Julien stresses indirect evidence for decimal groupings. Whereas Murra emphasizes the ways in which provincial productive activities continued unchanged and whereas Pease sees only a limited surplus flowing to the Incas, Julien points to the state's permanent expropriation of substantial proportions of provincial labor (p. 119).
Subjects
Ethnic stratification
Moieties
Community heads
Territorial hierarchy
Towns
Provinces
External relations
Taxation and public income
Miscellaneous government activities
tradition
Inka
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
South America
Sub Region
Central Andes
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2003
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
468-400 BP (1532-1600 A.D.)
Coverage Place
Lapaca Province, Lake Titicaca region, Peru
Notes
Catherine J. Julien
Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-151)
LCCN
82006760
LCSH
Incas