The [G 11 / Inca] Empire was created in 100 years under a clear expansionist policy of conquest and colonization. It sought to create a homogeneous nation from conquered Indian tribes who all originally had their own customs and dialect. The Inca language supplanted local speech and the Indians lost their culture. Within 100 years of this policy, many individual tribes had truly assimilated into the Inca Empire.
The Inca managed to hold territory because of the careful policy they had towards newly conquered lands. When conquest was complete, a thorough survey of the land and its people was undertaken: [G 15 / quipu] records were made, and a clay model of the area was built. All information - the location of arable land and villages, water supply, demographics and population size - was sent to Cuzco. The report was studied by the emperor and his advisers who later drew up a program for the region. A location was chosen for the provincial capital, a temple of the sun was built and women were chosen to serve in it. An Inca noble was appointed to govern the people with native chiefs advising him on how to rule the people.
The newly conquered people were taught the Inca land and labor system, the mita (labor service), together with Inca language, customs and religion. Sometimes most of the conquered population was moved and replaced with colonists who had long since been pacified. Alternatively, only some of them were moved and native-born [G 14 / Quechuas] (called `mitimaes') from the Cuzco region were scattered amongst the villages. In return for having special privileges, the mitimaes taught the residents the Quechua language and Inca customs.
