Yamil Chamoun

Influence of Incas treasure in European development

Inca is a word that comes from the Quechua language and means "king" or "prince". It is the name given to prehistoric rulers of Cuzco, who established a vast empire in the Andes in the fifteenth century, shortly before the Spanish conquest.
The Incas were great conquerors, his empire was located in South America. He was from northern Chile south of Colombia, covering the present territories of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador to the Pacific. Its territory was situated partly on the Andes.
But the name also applies to all subjects of the Inca Empire. The Incas settled the last and most developed of the ancient Andean civilizations.
To better manage such a vast territory, the Incas divided into four regions departing from the capital, Cuzco means "navel". Chinchasuyu, Antisuyu, Contisuyu and Collasuyu. These areas were divided into provinces and cities, composed of "ayllus".

Another major falsehoods spread that the anti-black legend are created: The famous alleged massive theft of precious metals, primarily gold and silver, by transporting it to the Spaniards leaving Spain and conquered territories impoverished and battered. Even many ask this fact demanding repairs to return it to Spain and to compensate countries that present "crime".

Needless to say, it is absolutely false that all the gold, silver, emeralds, pearls and other minerals or valuables were taken to Spain to the New World emptying of these products and taking into absolute poverty. A small part of everything that was extracted and the rest stayed in America was.

For starters wanted to comment that the gold, silver and other valuable minerals considered by Europeans had no economic value to the natives. They were only ornaments for their beauty and ease to be handled or used in some religious rites. In America in those years there was no currency, trade was conducted through barter and only the Aztecs came to be used as optional currency cocoa beans. By this I mean that for native gold was not much more than Westerners of the time ceramic figurine on a shelf.

Actually yes metals were carried Spain extracted from the American mines or as war booty was to be used to settle the actual tax Castilian law imposed on the overall economic activity: Quinto Real, which applied on company profits, ie after deduction of expenses and revenues on the profit 20% it must be sent to the crown by real collectors departed. The collection of these taxes was made by gold bars as they were easier to transport than any other form of payment.

By this I mean gold, silver, pearls, emeralds, sugar, etc, that was extracted from American soil only be sent at most Quinto Real, that is, 80% of the wealth produced is America remained in contributing to its development and the creation of a rich and advanced society. This Quinto Real was variable depending on the circumstances and economic conditions of each era so even there were times when it was not the 20% tax, but much less, and in the eighteenth century with the Bourbon reforms lowered up tithing, that is, only 10%, in order to stimulate economic activity in the area.

Therefore there is no such plunder, or theft, or evasion of rich minerals to Spain, only he reached an amount of gold to the royal treasury and tax assessment, not imply the leyenderos and, well, gold is also sent for payment European products sent from Spain. I do not know whether to pay it purchased is also called stealing, would not surprise me, really.