WHAT WAS THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE MUISCAS LIKE? - HISTORY - 2024

The social organization of the Muiscas was based on the Clan, which consisted of a group of people who were united by a blood bond.

The clans had a chief or head, who could be a priest (also called Sheikh). Clans were usually part of a tribe, that is, several clans were united and formed a single social group.

Map of the Muisca territory

The Muiscas had a stratification of social classes. Tribe chiefs, clan chiefs, or priests held the highest social rank. They were followed by the warriors (called guechas).

The next social class was made up of artisans, goldsmiths, potters, workers in the salt and emerald mines, merchants, and field workers.

Finally, in the lowest stratum, were the slaves. They were indigenous enemies who had been defeated and later captured and forced to serve in the tribes.

It is necessary to emphasize that there were many caciques within the social organization of the Muiscas. Those with greater power were called Zipas or Zaques and those of a lower rank were called Uzaques.

Social structure of the Muiscas

The Muiscas had a pyramidal social organization, made up of chiefdoms, priests, warriors, land workers, artisans and merchants, and the lowest class: slaves.

Each of the social strata will be detailed below.

-The chiefdoms

The Muiscas were organized into chiefdoms. They were political units led by a cacique, who was the central figure of the organization. The caciques were accompanied by the sheiks, an entourage, and the town criers.

The Muiscas considered that the chiefs of greater power and the sheiks were direct descendants of the gods. Caciques and sheiks were attributed the power to provide food to the community. To do this they performed rituals in honor of nature, to keep them safe and to do anything supernatural.

For this reason, the caciques (zipas or zaques) could not be looked at in the eyes and it was considered that everything that they produced was sacred.

We speak of caciques of greater power, because there were other "caciques" who ruled locally (usually they were guechas who were named caciques for their actions in battle). These caciques were called uzaques.

Consequently, in order to maintain the town under the rule of a supreme chief, it was necessary to use the town criers.

The town criers were in charge of addressing the local caciques, reminding them that those who had the maximum power were those descendants of the gods.

Sacred chiefdoms

There were two sacred chiefdoms that had religious power, these were:

-The Sacred of Tundama, located in what is now known as Duitama, Paipa, Cerinza, Ocavita, Onzaga and Soatá.

-El Sagrado de Iraca, located in what is now known as Busbanzá, Sogamoso, Pisba and Toca.

The chiefdom of Guatavita

The Guatavita chiefdom developed in the 16th century and inhabited the central part of the region occupied by the Muiscas.

The Hunza chiefdom

The Hunza chiefdom developed in what is now known as Tunja, a municipality in the Department of Boyacá.

The most prominent Hunza chiefs were: Hanzahúa, Michuá and Quemuenchatocha. Quemuenchatocha was the chief who was on the throne when the Spanish arrived, he insisted on hiding his treasure to protect it from the Spanish.

The chiefdom of Bacatá

This chiefdom was developed in the Zipa territory. The main Zipas were: Meicuchuca (considered by some historians as the first Zipa of the Zipazgo de Bacatá), Saguamanchica, Nemequene, Tisquesusa and Sagipa.

The latter was the brother of Tisquesusa and was successor to the throne after the Spanish assassinated Tiquesusa.

-The Muisca sheiks or priests

The Muisca priests were called sheikhs. These had a twelve-year education that was directed by the elders.

Sheikhs were responsible for religious ceremonies and were part of one of the most important social strata, since they considered themselves to be descended from the gods or astral divinities. Consequently, all religious activities were taken very seriously.

The priests, like the chiefs of the tribes, were the ones who kept part of the collected tribute and with the surplus of the crops.

-The Muisca warriors

The Muisca warriors were known as guechas. These were in charge of defending the territory of the Muiscas from the enemy tribes.

The Muiscas were politically and administratively organized through the Muisca Confederation, which was made up of four territories: the Zipazgo de Bacatá, the Zacazgo de Hunza, Iraca and Tundama.

To be part of the guechas it was not necessary to belong to the nobility, the only thing that was necessary was to demonstrate the strength and courage they had.

The gechas were praised for their exploits during the wars with the other tribes and were awarded the highest honors.

-The Muisca artisans and workers

This group was in charge of producing all the handicrafts, costume jewelery and ornaments used by the Muiscas. They were also in charge of working in the mines and working in the fields (harvesting all the food).

This group was the one that did the hard work, that is why it is said that without them, the nobility, the priests and the warriors could not live.

-The slaves

The Muiscas were in constant war with other tribes. In each one they defeated their enemies and took the survivors as their slaves.

The slaves were in charge of performing certain tasks that the Muiscas entrusted to them and they had to live according to their orders.

How did the Muiscas get to the throne?

The Muiscas had matrilineal rules of succession. Through this system the succession was granted through the maternal route.

So, the sons of a zaque or a zipa were not always the first in the line of succession. If there was any male who was a maternal relative, this would be the one who would have the right to the throne.

References

1. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from Wikipedia.org
2. Muisca rulers. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from Wikipedia.org
3. Muisca confederation. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from Wikipedia.org
4. The Muiscas. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from muiscassocialstudies.blogspot.com
5. Muisca Civilization. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from ancient.eu
6. Muiscas culture. Retrieved on January 4, 2018, from juanyvalentina.blogspot.com