ayllu
political unit
Also known as: comunidad
Quick Summary
The ayllu was the fundamental socioeconomic unit in Inca society. It served as a clan or sib, comprising extended families that collectively owned land. In present-day Peru, the ayllu continues to function as a community and an administrative unit. This structure was integral to pre-Hispanic Andean civilizations, organizing populations in both rural and urban settings. The ayllu system provided a framework for social organization and land management, contributing to the stability and functioning of these societies.1234
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