How did the Inca organize adult men for labor assignments and military service?

The Inca organized adult men for labor and military service through a system of state-mandated service known as the mit'a. Rather than a traditional tribute system based on goods, the Inca state required the peasantry to contribute their energy and labor.1

To facilitate this, the Inca implemented an administrative structure that classified the adult male population into decimal-based units of 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 households. This organization allowed local governors to effectively manage and exact the labor tax. Under this system, men were mobilized by their traditional leaders, often appearing for their obligations lineage by lineage.123

These labor assignments included a variety of state duties, such as:
* Military service: Serving as soldiers in the imperial army.13
* Public works: Constructing and maintaining infrastructure, including the extensive Inca highway system.13
* Agricultural production: Working on state-run lands, such as the large-scale corn production enterprises in the Cochabamba Valley.1
* Logistics: Carrying loads and filling state warehouses.1

In return for these services, individuals were often exempted from other state chores, and those who distinguished themselves in combat could receive special recognition.12