Rostworowski argues that the Incas did not have a single absolute ruler, but rather a dual system where power was shared between "Upper" (Hanan) and "Lower" (Hurin) halves. The Rise of Pachacuti:
The Inca Empire was a highly organized and structured society, with a strict social hierarchy. At the top of the pyramid was the Sapa Inca, who was considered divine and held absolute power. The nobility, known as the orejones, held important positions in the government and administration of the empire. historia tahuantinsuyo maria rostworowskipdf new
The Tahuantinsuyo was divided into four main regions, or suyu, each with its own administrative and economic center. These regions were: Chinan suyu (north), Antisuyu (east), Qullasuyu (south), and Kuntisuyu (west). This four-part division allowed the Incas to govern their vast empire efficiently, ensuring the collection of taxes, the maintenance of order, and the provision of essential services such as road maintenance and communication. Rostworowski argues that the Incas did not have
One of Rostworowski’s most significant contributions is her exploration of Andean organizational principles, particularly the concepts of reciprocity and redistribution . She argues that the Sapa Inca did not rule through absolute divine right alone, but through a constant negotiation of labor and resources with local ethnic leaders ( curacas ). This system of "asymmetrical reciprocity" allowed the state to mobilize massive labor forces for public works and military expansion, provided the Inca could "pay" for it with ritual feasts and gifts. The nobility, known as the orejones, held important
María Rostworowski was born in Lima, Peru, in 1922. She studied history and anthropology at the National University of San Marcos in Lima and later earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.
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