Religion and Power in the Andes: Idolatrous Curacas of the Central Sierra

Abstract

The political and social position of 17th century curacas (Indian headmen) in Peru is examined, using documents relating to the 'extirpation' (persecution) of idolatry by ecclesiastical authorities. The structure of power is illustrated by six legal cases. The varied outcomes of these proceedings are used to show the changing role of native authorities during the Spanish Colonial period and their modes of adaptation, through the political management of traditional and official religion, both to the communities which they governed and the Spanish Church and State which governed them. The Colonial curaca (Indian leader and government functionary) is a constant concern in studies of Andean social history. Modem analysis of this institution can be said to begin with references by Rowe (1954) in describing what he was to call the Inca national movement, and to continue in studies by Wachtel (1973), Spalding (1974), and Murra (1975), in search of setting forth the curaca's role as economic agent and delimiting his authority and social position in the Andean community. Nevertheless, a close look at the authors cited allows us to observe that the sources used are largely from the 16th century. When generalizations have been made on the functioning of curacazgo (curaca-hood) throughout the Colonial period, complementary documentary material originates in the mass of situations brought to light by the Tupac Amaru II movement in 1780. ETHNOHISTORY 26/3 (Summer 1979) 243 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.144 on Wed, 07 Sep 2016 05:31:43 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms