|
The Muisca are the Chibcha-speaking people that formed the Muiscan Confederation of the central highlands of present-day Colombia's Eastern Range. They were encountered by the Spanish Empire in 1537, at the time of the conquest. Subgroupings of the Muisca were mostly identified by their allegiances to three great rulers: the ''Zaque'', centered in Chunza, ruling a territory roughly covering modern southern and northeastern Boyacá and southern Santander; the ''Zipa'', centered in Bacatá, and encompassing most of modern Cundinamarca, the western Llanos and northeastern Tolima; and the ''Iraca'', ruler of Suamox and modern northeastern Boyacá and southwestern Santander. The territory of the Muisca spanned an area of around - a region slightly larger than Switzerland - from the north of Boyacá to the Sumapaz Páramo and from the summits of the Eastern Range to the Magdalena Valley. It bordered the territories of the ''Panches'' and ''Pijaos'' tribes. At the time of the conquest, the area had a large population, although the precise number of inhabitants is not known. The languages of the Muisca were dialects of Chibcha, also called ''Muysca'' and ''Mosca'', which belong to the Chibchan language family. The economy was based on agriculture, metalworking and manufacturing. == Political and administrative organization == The Muiscan people were organized in a confederation that was a loose union of states that each retained sovereignty. The Confederation was not a kingdom, as there was no absolute monarch, nor was it an empire, because it did not dominate other ethnic groups or peoples. The Muiscan Confederation cannot be compared with other American civilizations such as the Aztec or the Inca empires. The Muiscan Confederation was one of the biggest and best-organized confederations of tribes on the South American continent. Every tribe within the confederation was ruled by a chief or ''cacique''. Most of the tribes were part of the Muisca ethnic group, sharing the same language and culture, and relating through trade. They united in the face of a common enemy. The army was the responsibility of the Zipa or Zaque. The army was made up of the ''güeches'', the traditional ancient warriors of the Muisca. The Muiscan Confederation existed as the union of two lesser confederations. The southern confederation, headed by the Zipa, had its capital at Bacatá (now Bogotá). This southern polity included the majority of the Muisca population and held greater economic power. The northern confederation was ruled by the Zaque, and had its capital at Hunza, known today as Tunja. Although both confederations had common political relations and affinities and belonged to the same tribal nation, there were still rivalries between them. Among the confederations, there were four chiefdoms: Bacatá, Hunza, Duitama, and Sogamoso. The chiefdom was composed by localities.〔(Londoño, E., ''El lugar de la religión en la organización social muisca'' ) (tr.en The place of religion in the Muisca social organization), Museo del Oro. En Biblioteca Luís Ángel Arango.〕 The tribes were divided into ''Capitanías'' (ruled by a Capitan. There were two kinds: ''Great Capitania'' (''sybyn'') and ''Minor Capitania'' (''uta''). The status of ''Capitan'' was inherited by maternal lineage.〔Londoño E., op.cit.〕 Confederation (Zipa or Zaque) --> Priests (Iraca) --> Chiefdoms (Cacique) --> ''Capitanía'' (Capitan) --> Sybyn --> Uta * Territories of the Zipa: # Bacatá District: Teusaquillo, Tenjo, Subachoque, Facatativá, Tabio, Cota, Chía, Usaquén, Engativá, Suba, Sopó, Usme, and Zipacón # Fusagasugá District: Fusagasugá, Pasca, and Tibacuy # Zipaquirá District: Nemocón, Susa, Lenguazaque, Ubaté, Simijaca, and Chocontá # Gachetá District: Gachetá, Guatavita, and Suesca * Territories of the Zaque: Soratá, Ramiriquí, Samacá, Machetá, Tenza, Tibirito Lenguazaque, and Turmequé * Territory of Tundama: Cerinza, Ocabitá, Onzaga, Ibacucu, Sativa, Tibaná, and others * Territory of Sugamuxi: Bosbanza, Toca, Sogamoso, and others * Autonomous chiefdoms: Guaneta, Charalá, Chipata, Tinjacá, and others The Muisca legislation was consuetudinary, that is to say, their rule of law was determined by long-extant customs with the approval of the Zipa or Zaque. This kind of legislation was suitable to a confederation system, and it was a well-organized one. The natural resources could not be privatized: woods, lakes, plateaus, rivers and other natural resources were common goods. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Muisca people」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|