Inca social classes

Nobles

The Inca Empire was ruled by the nobles. These were the following people :

Sapa Inca - The emperor or king was called the Sapa Inca. He was at the top of the Inca social class and was considered a god in many ways.
Villac Umu - The high priest was just behind the Sapa Inca in social status. The gods were very important to the Inca and the high priest spoke directly to their most powerful god, the Sun god Inti.
Royal Family - The direct relatives of Sapa Inca were next in line. They received high positions in the government. The primary wife of the emperor was the queen called the coya.
Inca - The noble class, or Inca class, was made up of the people directly descended from the people who first established the city of Cuzco. They were called the Inca. They lived lives of luxury and held the best positions in the Inca government.
Inca-by-privilege - As the empire grew, the emperor needed more people he could trust in high positions in the government. There weren't enough of the original Inca to rule. So a new class was created called Inca-by-privilege. These people were considered nobles, but not as high in class as the true Inca.

Commoners

Artisans - Artisans were commoners, but were also considered a higher social class than the farmers. They worked on crafts such as pottery or gold jewelry for the nobles.
Farmers - At the bottom of the social class were the farmers. The farmers were also the largest and the most important class within the Inca Empire. Farmers worked long hard days and sent two-thirds of their crops to the government and the priests. The Inca Empire relied on the production of the farmers for its wealth and success.

Daily Life

....of a Peasant

The daily life of a peasant in the Inca Empire was full of hard work. The only time peasants were allowed not to work was during religious festivals. Other than that, they were expected to be working when they were not sleeping.

Most of the peasant men worked as farmers. They didn't own their own farms, but worked land owned by the government. They also had to pay taxes to the government.

The women worked hard at the home during the day. They cooked, made clothes, and took care of the children. Most girls were married by the time they were twelve years old.

Interesting Facts about the Daily Life of an Inca Commoner

Many men carried a small bag around with them, almost like a purse. In this bag they kept coca leaves for chewing as well as good luck charms.
Starting at the age of 14, men of the nobility wore large gold earplugs. They would put in bigger and bigger plugs over time.
Many people had to pay their taxes through labor. They worked for the government as soldiers, builders, or farmers in order to pay their taxes.
The government had inspectors that would keep an eye on the commoners. They even checked to see if the people were keeping their house clean and tidy.
Most commoners were not allowed to travel within the empire. Only the rich and government officials were allowed to travel.

....of a Noble

The Inca nobles lived a much easier lifestyle. They still had to work, but had important jobs in the government. They could own land and didn't have to pay taxes.