Society of Inca Empire

Strict social classes served as the foundation of Inca society. Few people had the chance to rise in social standing. A person would spend the remainder of their life in the social class they were born into.

(Inca) Noble Classes

The forefathers of the original Inca people controlled the Inca Empire. These were the persons who founded Cuzco in its early years.

Inca Sapa –
The Sapa Inca was the title of the emperor or monarch. He was regarded in many ways as a god and belonged to the Inca social elite at the top.

Umu Villac –
In terms of social standing, the high priest was merely beneath the Sapa Inca. The Inca placed a high value on their gods, and the Sun God Inti, who was their most potent deity, was addressed directly by the high priest.

The royal family
Next in line were the Sapa Inca’s blood kin. They were given important government jobs. The queen known as the coya served as the emperor’s chief consort.

Inca –
The members of the noble class, also known as the Inca class, were derived straight from the people who founded the city of Cuzco. They were referred to as Incas. They had luxurious lifestyles and the top jobs in the Inca government.

Inca-by-privilege –
The emperor required more individuals in powerful positions in the government as the empire expanded. The first Inca population was insufficient for them to rule. As a result, a new class known as Inca-by-privilege was established. Although they weren’t as noble as the real Incas, these folks were nevertheless regarded as nobility.

Public officials
The class of public administrators was beneath the noble or Inca aristocracy. At the local level, these individuals managed the government.

Curacas –
The tribes that were conquered were led by the Curacas. Frequently, they were left in charge of their tribes. Although they continued to answer to the Inca, if they remained obedient, they frequently preserved their positions.

Tax collectors –
Each ayllu, or group of families, had a tax collector who kept an eye on them. He saw to it that all of their taxes were paid. Tax collectors were arranged in a rigid hierarchy as well. The persons in higher positions kept an eye on those below them.

Keepers of records
There were many record keepers in the government who kept track of who had paid their taxes and where the supplies were kept.

Commoners

Artisans –
Although they were common people, artisans were regarded as belonging to a higher social status than farmers. For the nobles, they produced crafts like gold jewelry and pottery.

Farmers –
Farmers were at the very bottom of the socioeconomic scale. The Inca Empire’s largest and most influential class was agriculture. Farmers toiled at for long hours and gave the priests and government two-thirds of their harvest. The richness and prosperity of the Inca Empire depended on the agricultural output of the farmers.

The Ayllu
The ayllu served as the foundation of Inca society. The ayllu was made up of several families that collaborated as if they were one big family. In the empire, everyone belonged to an ayllu.

Interesting information about the Inca Empire

The government paid artisans with food it acquired through the levy it collected from farmers. Additionally, the so-called mit’a labor tax was not levied against artisans.

Participants in the public administration class included architects and engineers. They were regarded as being of a higher status than artisans or craftsmen.

The noble and Inca classes were only permitted to wear specific attire and jewelry.

High-ranking officials like curacas and nobility were exempt from paying taxes.

Commoners could only have one wife, however nobility was permitted to have multiple spouses.

Women may get married as young as twelve, and most got married by the time they were sixteen. Men began getting married at age 20.