the state controlled the economy of the incan empire through taxation and offered security.
the state controlled the economy of the incan empire through taxation and offered security.
who controlled the economy of the incan empire through taxation and offered security?
the state
incan mythology continues to be a powerful force in contemporary andean communities. after the nations that were once a part of the incan empire gained their independence from spain, many of these nations struggled to find a suitable origin myth to support the legitimacy of their state. in the early twentieth century, there was a resurgence of interest about the indigenous heritage of these new nations. while these references to inca mythology can be more overt, such as the presence of inti on the argentine flag, other references to the inca mythology can be subtler. for example, in the late twentieth century the peruvian revolutionary government made reference to inca myths about pachamama, an inca mother earth figure, in order to justify their land distribution programs. additionally, modern governments continue to make reference to the former inca empire in order to support their claims of legitimacy, to the point that there are municipally funded observances of rituals referencing inca mythology, especially in and around cusco. the power of incan mythology resonates in contemporary politics, with politicians like alejandro toledo making references to inca mythology and imagery during their candidacies and tenures. while the inca empire may have ceased to exist hundreds of years ago, its vibrant mythology continues to influence life throughout south america today.
inca mythology
the strategic deployment of incan mythology did not end after the incan empire was colonized by the spanish. in fact, incan mythology was utilized in order to resist and challenge the authority of the spanish colonial authorities. many incan myths were utilized to criticize the wanton greed of european imperialism. there was widespread killing and rape of women and children in south america by the european soldiers. for example, there are myths among the indigenous people of the former inca empire that tell the stories of foreigners who come into the andes and destroy valuable objects. one such myth is the tale of atoqhuarco amongst the quechua, which describes how an indigenous woman is destroyed in an act of rebellion against a lascivious foreigner, whom eventually is transformed into a predatory fox. powerful colonial institutions are also critiqued in some of these myths, with the catholic church being frequently lambasted. for example, the story of the priest and sexton highlights the hypocrisy and abusive nature of a catholic priest and his callous treatment of his indigenous parishioners. as such, these myths show that inca mythology was strategically deployed for subvert and rebel against spanish rule in the former incan empire.
inca mythology