What Was The Role Of The Kurakas In American Society

Indigenous elites became an essential part of the growing propagation of the Spanish rule moreover to the indigenous community in the colonial period of the Andean society. By the arrival of the Spaniards in South America in 1532, the life of the indigenous communities was remarkably transformed. These indigenous elites known as the kurakas or caciques were not eliminated by the Spaniards, instead, they used them to their advantage and contributed to various leading roles that benefited the Spaniards conquest of the Andean societies. These kurakas became known as the regional leaders of the conquered people. They assigned them tasks to maintain peace and justice among the communities following the Inca laws and customs. The role of the kurakas
As Spalding mentioned between the kurakas and the indigenous commoners there was a sharp divide between the peasant’s hardworking life in the villages in contrast to the privileged conditions of the kurakas. By which kurakas were co-opted into the imperial ruling class. Living a privileged life came with prerogatives which lead to special liberties that were ordinarily restricted to commoners. The kurakas were the only members of the society who did not take part in any physical labor instead they received the labor of the commoners. Just as Juan de Matienzo mentioned in Spalding's readings the kurakas function was, “to be idle and drink.” In addition, other than benefiting from not doing labor the kurakas collected taxes whom many learned these laws and customs in Cuzco. They were responsible for administering and maintaining proper behavior to ensure peace and justice was established within the ayllu. They supervised, counted, divided, and assigned labor. This ensured the lands would be cultivated by the proper kin and the product would be shared accordingly to the rules. If there would be any issues, and the “law of good behavior” would be violated, the kurakas would then intervene and get things back on track the Incan