Mitma
Encyclopedia
Mitma was a policy of forced resettlement employed by the Inca
s. It involved the forceful migration of groups of extended families or ethnic group
s from their home territory to lands recently conquered by the Incas. The objective was to transfer both loyalty to the state and a cultural baggage of inca culture such as language, technology, economic and other resources into areas that were in transition.
The term mitma is a Quechua
word meaning "sprinkle, distribute, spread".
Peoples affected by this policy were also known by the Incas and during colonial times as mitmakuna or mitmaqkuna and was used over a long period of time in all border regions of the empire.
Modern anthropological and linguistic studies suggest that the policy affected up to a 25% of the populations of the empire and is probably the largest single element of the inca domination.
The strategic and political use of these policy might had been also related to a transhumancy
when large herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas were managed by the state. The element of political stability is obvious as the new settlements depended on the incas for defense, supplies and governance.
The policy of Mitmaqkuna took place specially in the Bolivia
n plateau except in the southern area and the functions of the migrants might have been economic and of defense of the border area of the chiriguanos. The southwest arc of the plateau was covered by garrisons that extended to the Pucara
of Aconquija.
In the fifteen century the population of Colla people of present day Bolivia was invaded by the Inca Wiracocha that annexed those territories to the Tawantinsuyo. Groups of mitimaes were introduced to the region, some of whom spoke Quechua. At the time of the arrival of the Spanish conquest the heterogenous population of those territories used Aymara
, Puquina and Quechua as a language of communication.
In the area of the Northeast of Argentina
, the Incas introduced the Chichas, that came from present day Bolivian territory. The Northern area of Chile also received Chichas populations.
Populations of the Calchiquí valley and the central area of the Catamarca
province resisted the conquest and refused to work for the Incas, and as a consequence the incas used as a labor force contingents of mitmaqkunas. Blas Ponce, one of the first residents of Londres in Catamarca, mentions that the in province of Quire-quire the Inca had at least 20,000 mitimaes that once defeated by the Spanish decided to abandon the valley.
Population swaps were also used in the territory of present day Ecuador
and had a large impact in the population mix of the region, in the area of Tumipamba, the transition was almost complete.
Along the scarpment of Huamahuaca the mitimaes were groups of Chicha origin from Bolivia and in the communities of Churumatas and Paypayas the objective was to defend the territory from the Chiriguanos and to spread the use of the Quechua language.
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...
s. It involved the forceful migration of groups of extended families or ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s from their home territory to lands recently conquered by the Incas. The objective was to transfer both loyalty to the state and a cultural baggage of inca culture such as language, technology, economic and other resources into areas that were in transition.
The term mitma is a Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
word meaning "sprinkle, distribute, spread".
Peoples affected by this policy were also known by the Incas and during colonial times as mitmakuna or mitmaqkuna and was used over a long period of time in all border regions of the empire.
Modern anthropological and linguistic studies suggest that the policy affected up to a 25% of the populations of the empire and is probably the largest single element of the inca domination.
The strategic and political use of these policy might had been also related to a transhumancy
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
when large herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas were managed by the state. The element of political stability is obvious as the new settlements depended on the incas for defense, supplies and governance.
The policy of Mitmaqkuna took place specially in the Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n plateau except in the southern area and the functions of the migrants might have been economic and of defense of the border area of the chiriguanos. The southwest arc of the plateau was covered by garrisons that extended to the Pucara
Pucará
A pucará is a term that refers to the ruins of the fortifications made by the natives of the central Andean cultures and particularly to those of the Inca...
of Aconquija.
In the fifteen century the population of Colla people of present day Bolivia was invaded by the Inca Wiracocha that annexed those territories to the Tawantinsuyo. Groups of mitimaes were introduced to the region, some of whom spoke Quechua. At the time of the arrival of the Spanish conquest the heterogenous population of those territories used Aymara
Aymara
The Aymara or Aimara are an indigenous ethnic group in the Andes and Altiplano regions of South America; about 2 million live in Bolivia, Peru and Chile...
, Puquina and Quechua as a language of communication.
In the area of the Northeast of Argentina
Noa
-Name:*Noa is a popular traditional Hawaiian name, meaning "free" and "freedom". *Noa , is the most popular feminine Hebrew name, derived from a root that means "movement". Noa is a biblical name; she was one of the Daughters of Zelophehad...
, the Incas introduced the Chichas, that came from present day Bolivian territory. The Northern area of Chile also received Chichas populations.
Populations of the Calchiquí valley and the central area of the Catamarca
Catamarca
Catamarca may refer to:*San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina*Catamarca Province, Argentina...
province resisted the conquest and refused to work for the Incas, and as a consequence the incas used as a labor force contingents of mitmaqkunas. Blas Ponce, one of the first residents of Londres in Catamarca, mentions that the in province of Quire-quire the Inca had at least 20,000 mitimaes that once defeated by the Spanish decided to abandon the valley.
Population swaps were also used in the territory of present day Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and had a large impact in the population mix of the region, in the area of Tumipamba, the transition was almost complete.
Along the scarpment of Huamahuaca the mitimaes were groups of Chicha origin from Bolivia and in the communities of Churumatas and Paypayas the objective was to defend the territory from the Chiriguanos and to spread the use of the Quechua language.
Ethnic groups believed to have a Mitma origin
- Bolivia
- Colla people
- Argentina
- Chichas
- Churumatas
- Paypayas
- Ecuador
- CañarisCañarisThe Cañari are an indigenous ethnic group traditionally inhabiting the territory of the modern provinces of Azuay and Cañar in Ecuador; the term also refers to an independent pre-Hispanic tribal confederation of the same name, from which the modern people are descended. They are particularly noted...
- Saraguros
- Salasacas
- Puruhaes
- Chile
- Peru