definition: labor draft with set period of service.
context: incan tribute system of rotational labor; built public works, buildings, roads, etc. the inca mit'a provided public goods, such as maintenance of road networks, sophisticated irrigation, and cropping systems that required inter-community coordination of labor. the majority of inca subjects performed their mit'a obligations in or near their home communities, often in agriculture; service in mines was extremely rare. in contrast, the spanish mit'a acted as a subsidy to private mining interests and the spanish state, which used tax revenues from silver production largely to finance european wars.
structure: instituted inca hierarchy and domination of andes region.
meaning: counted as tribute sometimes instead of agricultural goods. emphasizes the willingness of the inca indigenous to serve their state.
conflict: ayllus would supply labor tribute in exchange for protection from inca troops. form of draft, which engendered conflicts at times with local communities. after the conquest, the spanish kept this system in place. communities were required to provide one seventh of their male labor force at any given time for public works, mines and agriculture. the system became an intolerable burden on the inca communities and abuses were commonplace.