Chipchas

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Chipchas
Soledad Santos Anna S. Lessios
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Background Information

• Called by the spaniards Muiscas, Muxicas, or
  Mozcas.
• Between 400 and 300BC the Chibchas traveled from
  Nicaragua and Honduras to Colombia, right before
  the Arawaks arrived there from other parts of
  South America.
• First they settled in the low lands of Colombia
  but then were forced to move to the mountains by
  the Caribs.
• Chibchas lived in the eastern and north-eastern
  highlands of Colombia but resided mostly in the
  Colombian Andes.
• In the 16th century they occupied what is
  currently the Colombian departments of Boyaca and
  Cundinamarca..

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Political Structure

• The executive branch was lead by an elected
  war-chief called the Zaque.
• The Chibchas territory was divided into two major
  federations
• One federation under the authority of the Zipa of
  Bacata (close to whats currently Bogota).
• The other under the Zaque of Hunsa or Tunja.

• Each federation contained a dominant city
  (capital city) and smaller towns. Caciques
  governed these areas.
• The two federations paid allegiance to the high
  pontiff (sacred priest) of Sogamozo or Iraca.
• Apart from the two major federations, the
  Chibchas also had seven smaller states.

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Economic Stucture

• Main source of economic gain was agriculture.
• - Main bases of activity were corn, cotton,
  coca, potatoes, and tobacco.
• Chibchas used salt and emeralds as their
  currency.
• They created large commercial routes that
  extended to Peru and Panama and were used to
  trade mostly salt.
• They used their gold to adorn the higher
  political figures with of large and precious
  jewelry.
• Their commercial structure was very developed and
  included markets, fairs, and a weight and measure
  system.

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• They believed the shamans were capable of
  speaking with their spirits and gods.
• They were polytheists, animists, and believed in
  the spirits and miracles of nature.
• Paid homage to their ancestors and the sun.
• Chibchas believed that the high pontiff was so
  powerful that he could control the waters and the
  rain, and that the weather depended on his will.
• They celebrated their gods with music instead of
  prayer, hence the name muisca.
• Human and animal sacrifices were very common.
• Most offerings consist of gold, emeralds, and
  fruits.

Culture
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Social Structure

• Role of Women and Men
• Chibchas were polygamists (men were allowed to
  marry more than one wife).
• The caciques position was chosen through the
  maternal line.
• For land ownership was determined through the
  paternal line.
• Working positions and importance
• Priests had an important job which was
  maintaining the numerous temples and sanctuaries
  also leading the rituals and ceremonies.
• Caciques were very important political figures
  that controlled and governed the Chibchas smaller
  states and villages.

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Everyday Life

• Shelter and diet
• Houses mostly circular with conic rooftops made
  out of hay.
• Houses were built out of a wooden structure
  covered with clay.
• Temples were used for ceremonies and rituals.
  Palaces were only for the cacique and huts were
  for everybody else.
• Chibchas commonly ate the fruits of their labor
  and used the surplus for trading. They also
  hunted for food.
• Working habits
• They spent most of their time working on their
  agriculture
• 1. Gathered salt
• 2. Sometimes hunted
• Many worked in the army fighting neighboring
  tribes and enemies.

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Spanish Conquest

• In 1536 Gonzalo Ximenez de Quesada began his
  exploration in the Colombian Andes invading the
  Chibcha territory causing conflicts.
• By 1538 the Chibchas had been completely
  conquered by the Spaniards.
• Spaniards stole most of the Chibchas riches (gold
  and emeralds).
• After they were conquered the political structure
  of the Chibchas deteriorated and their language
  was replaced by Spanish.