AP World History (WHAP) 1.4 Deep Dive: Incan Mita System

Summary

In this episode of Antisocial Studies, the focus is on the unique Mita system of the Inca Empire. The Inca, who had no currency or written language, managed their vast empire through a labor exchange system where citizens served the state three times in their lives, contributing to agriculture, construction, and religious duties. The episode delves into the Inca's impressive architecture, their belief in three interconnected worlds, and how they maintained their infrastructure without taxation or slavery. The host challenges the notion that the Mongols were the exception in history, arguing that the Inca's achievements, including their record-keeping system 'khipu,' make them truly exceptional.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The Inca Empire had a unique system called the Mita, which was a form of labor service rather than a monetary or tribute system.
• 🏰 The Inca Empire was organized into provinces called suyu, which were further divided into local communities or ailu, maintaining a degree of local autonomy.
• 🌞 The Inca allowed conquered peoples to keep their religions and local leaders, as long as they showed loyalty and contributed labor to the empire.
• 🛠️ Inca labor service involved working for the state, serving the gods, and contributing to community projects, typically for periods of around 90 days.
• 🏗️ The Inca were known for their impressive architecture, using techniques like trapezoidal shapes to make their buildings earthquake-resistant.
• 🌾 The Inca had no currency and relied on bartering for trade, and the Mita system for labor, which was a significant departure from other empires' practices.
• 🛤️ The Inca built extensive road systems and bridges, comparable to the Romans, using the labor from the Mita system.
• 📚 The Inca did not have a written language but used a complex system of knotted strings called khipu for record-keeping.
• 🌐 The Inca Empire was one of the largest in the world, ruling over more people and land than the Roman Empire at its height.
• 🌟 The Inca civilization is considered exceptional due to its unique approach to governance, architecture, and societal organization without the use of writing, currency, slavery, or wheels.

Q & A

What is the Mita system discussed in the script?

The Mita system was a unique labor organization in the Inca Empire where able-bodied individuals were required to serve the state, their gods, and their community for about 90 days, three times in their life. It was a form of obligatory community service rather than a tax system.

How did the Inca Empire structure its provinces?

The Inca Empire was divided into provinces, which were further broken down into suyu, or main provinces. These suyu were modeled after the Southern Cross constellation, reflecting the Inca's astronomical knowledge.

What was the significance of the Southern Cross in Inca culture?

The Southern Cross was significant in Inca culture as it was used as a model for the division of their empire into four main provinces, or suyu, reflecting the Inca's astronomical and cultural alignment.

How did the Inca treat local communities and leaders after conquest?

After conquering an area, the Inca typically allowed local communities to continue their religious practices and kept local leaders in charge, as long as they showed loyalty to the Inca and contributed to the empire through the Mita system.

What was unique about the Inca Empire's approach to currency and trade?

The Inca Empire did not use currency; instead, they relied on a barter system and the Mita system for labor and resource allocation, which was a unique approach compared to other civilizations of the time.

Why were craftsmen exempt from the Mita system's labor requirements?

Craftsmen were exempt from the Mita system's labor requirements because they were highly valued in the Inca Empire for their skills, particularly in architecture, which was a notable contribution of the Inca civilization.

What is an example of the Inca's architectural achievements?

The Inca's architectural achievements include their use of trapezoidal shapes to create earthquake-proof structures, as seen in the foundations of Cusco and the temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu.

How did the Inca's understanding of astronomy influence their architecture?

The Inca's understanding of astronomy influenced their architecture by designing structures like the temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu, which had specific features that aligned with the sun's movement during solstices.

What is the significance of the Incan trilogy mentioned in the script?

The Incan trilogy refers to the Inca belief in three worlds: the land of men and power (earth, represented by the Puma), the land of the afterlife (underworld, represented by the serpent), and the land of the gods and freedom (epitomized by the Condor). This belief system was reflected in their capital city Cusco and the layout of Machu Picchu.

How did the Inca record-keeping system, known as khipu, work?

The khipu was a record-keeping system used by the Inca, which involved tying knots in ropes of different colors to represent information. The exact method of how khipu worked is still being studied, but it is known to have been a complex system of communication and record-keeping without the use of written language.

Why did the Inca not use wheels for transportation despite being aware of their existence?

The Inca did not use wheels for transportation because they lived in the Andes Mountains where the terrain was not suitable for wheeled vehicles. Instead, they relied on human labor and their domesticated animals, like llamas and alpacas, for carrying goods.