The Inca Empire founded around 1200 A.D. was an imperial society with a complex development of cosmologies. This Dynasty allowed for growth of population, resources and power through a newly founded concept of political economies. Prior to this new idealism of exploitation and control Tribal societies were solely based on subsistence living. Where the Inca population was divided into a ranking system by ascribed status; individuals in tribal societies gained small amounts of symbolic power threw achieved status. Another substantial difference between the two types of societies is the taxation system of the Inca empire verses the egalitarian foundations on which tribal societies are built. Control was obtained by the Inca Dynasty through manipulation of the societies cosmology. Therefore, by comparing the cosmologies of Imperial societies with those of tribal societies we are able to analise the extent to which social structure influences cultural transformation.

Incas Political economy differed from the earlier tribal economy of subsistence, this allowed for power gain. Political economy refers to ‘a cultural pattern in which a central authority intervines in the production and distribution of goods.’ The central authority in any Imperial society is an elite minority believed to be within the lineal dissenience of the Gods. This is the concept of the divine kingship which can be seen in the Inca Empire. Unlike the subsistence economy of a tribal society, where production only caters for local consumption, a political economies production will include a large amount of surplus goods which are controlled by the central authority. This control of goods allows a growth of power and wealth for the elite whilst enforcing means of control over the larger population. Some tribal societies were aware of food storage technics, however, this occurrence was rear. The Australian Aborigines for example stored food only temporarily during emergencies. Storage of surplus goods was un unnecessary practice for these tribes. As the Aboriginal tribes were foraging tribes with small populations of around 500, surplus food would only add wait when moving camps and if food sources declined the tribe would search new foraging territories. ‘Rather then stockpiling food, the basic strategy was to maintain access to resources over a wide area.’

Individual members of tribal societies gained symbolic power threw achieved status.
However, the elite authorities of imperial societies are granted there power threw ascribed status. Achieved status refers to a Bigman within a triable society, their power and leadership is earned and may only be temporary depending on personal ability to reward followers. Power held within tribal societies is also very much symbolic due to a lack of necessity in having control within such a small population. Whiles individuals within tribal societies had to ern their power the elites of imperial societies were born into theirs. As mentioned earlier Imperial societies believed that the elites were decedents of Gods. A Godly emperor would embody the entire Inca society. This cosmology eventuated in a four ranked class system; The supr-elite, with a population of a few hundred were closely related to the emperor and were often incestual in order to keep religious power, resources, food, wealth, status and land within the bloodline. These were the upper class in Inca societies. Below the Supr-elites in order of rank were the 6000 noble elites, 60,000 lower level manages and the two million commoner laborers. Imperial ranking systems were an ideal way to ensure controle over the larger population and maitain a working class.

Working classes were further exploited with a form of taxation referred to as tribute. These tribute payments contrasted to the previous egalitarian culture of tribal societies. Tribal societies ran on the basis of equality, provided no individual had dishonored the tribe then all men, women, children and bigmen were entitled to simmilar food portions as well as simmilar living conditons. This was often ensured by a bigman destributing the days catch to the tribes people. Within the Inca Empire elites would ecschainge ‘supernatural rewards and token meterial gifts’ for tribute. The purpus of these exchanges were solely to decive commenors into a belife that the Inca empire was still an egaliterian sociaty. In truth however, tribute paymenmts emphisised the social ranking and in turn provided the elites with grater power.

Elite Emperors of the Inca Dynasty used the societies cosmological beliefs in order to minipulate the populaition and gain power. Basic cosmologies of a tribal society would not have been so easily taken adavantage of. Prime reasoning behind this is due to the Incas belief that the elite are decendants of the gods. This belief in itself allows a society were