Tarata
Tarata in Inca Times
Andean Harmony and Imperial Legacy: The Qhapaq Ñan in Tarata, Tacna
The Prehistory of Qhapaq Ñan: Tiahuanaco and Aymara Influence
The story of Tarata as a connection point begins long before the Inca apogee. After the fall From the imposing Tiahuanaco culture, the Tacna region came under the great influence of the Aymara.
In fact, According to historian Rómulo Cúneo Vidal, the Aymara people who lived in Tarata, Putina and Sama came from the town of Pomata. Therefore, This area was integrated into the great Aymara chiefdom of Chucuito, which included important centers such as Juli, Ilave and Acora.
Therefore, This ancient past laid the foundations for a deep Andean tradition and trade routes that the Inca Empire would later adopt.
Tarata and the Engineering of Pachacútec
The section of the Inca Trail that crosses the province of Tarata is a undeniable mark of the passage of the Inca civilization through the region. This road was not just a path, but a fundamental medium for the development and integration of the area into Tawantinsuyu.
The Legacy of Pachacuti: Integration and Terracing
It was under the command of Inca Pachacuti that the Tarata connection was consolidated. As is well known, Pachacuti was the ruler who transformed the empire during the 15th century. Under his power, He reformed the state, built cities, temples and monuments as incredible as Machu Picchu.
Therefore, All chroniclers agree that he was the greatest emperor of the Inca Empire. His vision extended as far as Tarata, where:
Ecological Integration: The road served to communicate and articulate the various ecological zones existing in the province. Even more, This route facilitated the exchange of agricultural products, essential for the subsistence of the population of Tarata.
Santa María Archaeological Site: The Inca Trail near the Santa María Archaeological Site and its colossal terraces It demonstrates the Inca investment in agricultural infrastructure and territorial control of this strategic area. Thus, The Tarata road was an engine of exchange and a symbol of total integration into the empire, whose use continued even into the 20th century.
