Women of the Inca Empire: Mystics, Warriors, and Queens

At the heart of Inca civilization was the concept of dualism—an idea that balance and harmony were achieved through the union of opposites. This worldview extended into gender roles. Men and women were seen as complementary rather than unequal. Each had specific duties and spheres of influence, which were both respected and ritualized. For instance, while men might manage external affairs like agriculture or warfare, women oversaw domestic life, weaving, food production, and healing—tasks considered vital to the health and continuation of society.