In pre-Inca times, the South American Indians lived in small groups called ayllus. This was the fundamental social and political organization in Peru and the practice reached far back into the country's history. The ayllu usually consisted of an extended family and was led by a chief or `sinchi.' The sinchi and his family were the only members of the tribe with noble status, the rest all had equal commoner status. There was no method of social advancement. All the commoners labored in the fields, who in turn supported the sinchi and his family.
Large numbers of ayllus inhabited the same region, speaking regional dialects and bartering amongst each other. Ayllus also remained independent from one another. For example, in religion they usually worshipped only their own ayllu's spirits and not those of a general regional god. The original founder of the ayllu was worshipped by the other members of the ayllu.
Under the [G 11 / Inca], the tribes still organized themselves into small kin groups, but superimposed on this natural structure was the complex system of Inca government. Instead of paying allegiance to the sinchi, everyone served the emperor. Also, subjects of the Inca Empire had to move far from their villages when the emperor demanded they serve in the army, the administration or the temples.
