essay
Urco and uma: Aymara concepts of space
anthropological history of andean politics • Cambridge {Cambridgeshire} • Published In 1986 • Pages: 201-227
By: Bouysse-Cassagne, Therese.
Abstract
The author explores the concepts behind two subdivisions within the southern quarter, or Collasuyu, of the Inkan Empire. The Collasuyu was divided into two suyus: the Urcosuyu and the Umasuyu. These two terms are Aymaran terms and define more than geographical space (i.e., Urco could also mean high, right, masculine, etc., and Uma could also mean feminine, left, low, etc.). The terms also help us to understand part of the Aymaran world view. The author examines these concepts by using writings from the time of the Spanish conquest and projects these ideas back to the time when the Aymara ruled the altiplano and the highest part of the puna around Lake Titicaca. The author also hypothesizes how these concepts and the Aymara changed through time with the Inkan and then the Spanish conquests.
- Region
- South America
- Sub Region
- Central Andes
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Unknown
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- Notes
- Thérèse Bouysse-Cassagne
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 85010976
- LCSH
- Indians of South America--Antiquities