Within the Inka Empire's highly organized tribute and labor system, textiles served as a primary currency and a crucial indicator of social status. How did the production and use of the highly valued *qompi* (fine cloth) differ from that of *awasqa* (ordinary cloth)?
- It was woven from fine camelid fiber by state-supported female specialists (*acllacuna*) and reserved for elite, imperial, and religious purposes.Answer
- BIt was produced by individual hunters as a personal ritual garment worn during shamanic vision quests to gain the spiritual protection of animal deities.
- CIt was developed after the Spanish conquest as a syncretic response to European imports, blending traditional Andean motifs with Spanish weaving techniques.
- DIt was woven exclusively by male warriors to be traded in decentralized local markets, without state supervision or gendered labor divisions.
Answer
It was woven from fine camelid fiber by state-supported female specialists (*acllacuna*) and reserved for elite, imperial, and religious purposes.
The correct answer is correct because *qompi* was the finest class of Inka textile. It was woven from soft, high-quality camelid fibers (such as alpaca or vicuña) by specialized female weavers known as the *acllacuna* (Chosen Women), who lived and worked in state-managed institutions. The distribution of *qompi* was highly restricted by the state; it was reserved for the Sapa Inka (emperor), the nobility, religious ceremonies, and as state gifts to secure political alliances. In contrast, *awasqa* was a coarser fabric woven by ordinary households for daily wear.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Inka prestige textiles and gendered labor systems