How the Incas and Europeans Adapted to Eachothers Ambitions

Following the fall of the Incas, the Conquistadors and the new ethnic entities were in a mutual relationship to preserve and expand eachothers interests.  The new ethnic groups needed the Conquistadors for self-preservation and because they viewed the Conquistadors as strong allies, "using an alliance with Europeans to protect against encroachments by outside enthic groups... But dependence upon Europeans to settle internal disputes or to correct colonial abuses was quite another, Unfortunately, such a dependence grew inceasingly frequent" (Stern 45)    

In order to gain favor with the Conquistadors, the new ethnic entities were very much aware of the Conquistadors desires for precious metals and "money" (37) "Rather than isolate themselves from these economic developments... Indians incorporated the search for money and commercial advantage into their daily existence, and for their own benefit. " (Stern 37)  The  reason being, that the conquistadors required tribute in the payment of money (38)  Thus the Kurakas and Chiefs of the new ethnic entities began exploiting their own to secure alliances with the Conquistadors.

The Conquistadors had to learn to play the politics of the Andean Communities, especially after emerging ethnic entities asserted their own independence.  The Conquistadors  had to learn local politics and became active players in the Andean system. " The Encomenderos knew they needed favorable working relationships with "their" Kurakas... Encomenderos and other Spaniards frequently came before the cabildo in Humanga's first decasde to ask for land grants" (Stern 31)   Instead of asserting control through physical force, the Conquistadors accomodated local politics to advance themselves.    

The Conquistadors understood tht the Kurakas were viewed as "guardians and leaders, became the indispensable mediators of labr relationships.  To "rent" Indians to transport wares or work lands,  A European often had tomake the arrangement with kurkas rther than hire laborers directly." (Stern 41)  Thus the Conquistadors were obedient to the Kurakas, even going as far as to bribe them in return for favors (Page 31 shows such an example of Encomendeor Maldonado who showered the Kuraka with horses, slaves, etc..)   "The colonials had little choice but to rely upon their alliance with the Kurkas." (Stern 43)  Without he Kurkas, the common "Indian" would become uncontrollable, and justifying "recipricol" exchanges would cause the outnumberd Conquistadors to resort to force to extract labor.  

The Conquistadors went as far as to preserve this labor strategy in Ondegardo and Tomas' recommendations to the Crown, "They urged the Crown to base its exploitation of the native economies based upon a respect for the traditional relationships and perrogatives of Andian society.  To the greastest extent conssistent with Crown interests, royal policy should siphon off surplus goods and labor from ongoning native economies rather than reorganize or control them directly." (Stern 43)

MY PROSE FOR THE READER,

Why did the Kurakas have so much influence over their people?  Give 2 other examples of how the Conquistadors exploited the Andean indians/ secured the labor of the Andean Indians.