Institution

Mita

The mita was a system of compulsory labour in the Andes, adapted by the Spanish Empire from an Inca institution. Indigenous communities had to send a share of their men to work in mines, notably the silver mines of Potosi, and other enterprises. The system caused great hardship and population loss.

Mentioned in 3 profiles

Spanish EmpireSocioeconomyInca EmpireSocioeconomy, Military, ImpactViceroyalty of PeruSocioeconomy, Governance, Summary

Mentioned in 5 state histories

Kingdom of PhrygiaPacajesInca EmpireViceroyalty of PeruRoyal Audiencia of Charcas

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Mita. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mita
MLA
“Mita.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mita. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Mita.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mita.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Mita’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mita (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻