mitma

The mitma policy was a system of forced resettlement and colonization used by the Inca Empire to manage conquered peoples. This practice involved moving segments of a population from their home territories to distant areas within the empire.12

The primary goals of mitma were to:
* Ensure loyalty to the Inca state.2
* Facilitate better utilization of land resources.2
* Break up the size and power of ethnic groups by dispersing their members.2
* Weaken the self-sufficiency of ethnic groups.2
* Make it more difficult for inhabitants to revolt successfully.2

When new territories were conquered, loyal settlers from established Inca provinces were often moved in. Conversely, recalcitrant groups from newly conquered areas might be relocated to their home territories. This policy contributed to the Inca's ability to maintain political stability and control over their vast and diverse empire. The term mitma itself comes from the Quechua word for "foreigner" or "stranger".231