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Literary Review
History of the Inca Realm, by Maria Rostworowski de Diez Canseco.
Translated by Harry B. Iceland. Cambridge University Press.
Reviewed by Marcia Koth de Paredes

Front cover of the History of the Inca Realm

This excellent book about the Incas was originally published in Peru as Tahuantinsuyothe name used to indicate a vision of the state as four united regions. This is now a classic work of ethno historical research by one of Peru's most prolific and respected writers that we should all read for greater understanding of Peru. The principal concerns of the book are the origins, sudden rise of the Inca state and the rapid collapse of the system after arrival of the Spanish. Maria describes methods of Inca political development, as well as the social structure and wealth that permitted expansion from a small chiefdom to hegemony throughout the Western region of South America.

I often hear questions about why there are different stories about the Incas. Maria suggests: “Two serious difficulties are encountered in conducting research on the history of the Incas. One is related to the Andean mode of remembering and communicating events. The other, to the Spanish perspective in recording and interpreting the information left to us in what became known as the chronicles.”

She reminds us that the Incas had no writing, no clock, and no money. Remembering for them was based on myths and the capacity to tell stories from one generation to the next so now efforts must be made to decipher and separate myth from reality. Inca history can also be told in three or four different ways depending on which chronicler is used for research. Andean concepts were very different from the Spanish so the chroniclers tended to impose their own worldviews on reports, sometimes used analogies inaccurately and might even selectively add or eliminate in order to please, or not displease, a current ruler. The book gives dozens of interesting examples.

She presents her views clearly, along with those of other scholars, and points out issues that require additional work. The book has been influential on current research being carried out by historians and archaeologists because of the care she takes to clarify issues and to describe the sources she uses to make statements. The book is also very interesting for all of us because she makes definite statements only when she is convinced that there is evidential support and also makes it clear that some ideas are incorrect or vague and still require work.

The Inca state is described as having received influences from pre-Inca wandering tribes looking for good lands to cultivate, methods developed to manage difficult terrain in order to take advantage of different ecological niches, attitudes related to reciprocity and exchange of favors and goods, attitudes of wealth and ostentation influenced by cultures on the coast. It would seem that these influences continue to exist in Peruvian culture.

Maria describes several aspects of Inca culture and organization that facilitated the establishment and maintenance of power over extensive regions: use of reciprocity (gifts, exchanges, promises and commitments) in preference to the use of force, an eagerness and capacity to build, new ideas about the cities and road networks that were required, and the ability to plan, organize and commit the use of the labor force.

The Inca eagerness to build is something we see evidence of everywhere and is reported to be based on numerous factors. They wanted estates at different altitudes to obtain a variety of products, needed roads, bridges, administrative and storage centers to permit communication, commerce and control, and toward the end wanted to show wealth and luxury. They could, for example, build roads, build ceremonial and rest stops as well as storage spaces for gifts and supplies along those roads, move populations to protect the bridges and construction along the roads and use them for communication, exchange and moving armies. There were 30-50,000 kilometers of roads reported by the chroniclers.

One of the most valuable contributions of the book is her explanation of certain concepts of social organization. I don't think you will find these concepts as clearly described elsewhere. She gives examples in the text that make ideas clear and there are brief definitions in a glossary that are useful, though less satisfactory. A few examples:

Mita: a system of rotational service, employed to carry out communal projects at determined times on an orderly, cyclical basis. There were also war mitas to take men from their ayllus to serve in state armies.
Ayllu: a lineage group or kin-based community, frequently possessing land with defined boundaries
Panaca: royal ayllu, Inca lineage system for the elite, and probably matrilineal
Mitmaq: groups sent from their places of origin to other regions to fulfill specific tasks or missions.

If you want to obtain the book the Spanish version is available through most bookstores in Lima and the Cambridge University Press version is available through the Internet. You will find that it is very informative about Peru as well as a good example of writing about research in the social sciences.

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