What significant action did the Inca take with conquered village leaders?

The Inca Empire was known for its sophisticated administration and strategies for managing conquered territories. When the Inca conquered village leaders, they often replaced them with loyal rulers. This approach ensured that the local governance aligned with Inca interests and maintained control over the newly acquired areas. By placing loyal leaders in charge, the Inca could effectively implement their policies, collect taxes, and integrate conquered peoples into the empire’s social and economic systems. This method promoted stability and minimized the risk of rebellion, as the new leaders were typically more loyal to the Inca than to their previous sovereign entities, creating a unified and cohesive empire.

In contrast, allowing village leaders to retain control could lead to loyalties that conflicted with Inca interests, while establishing trading posts would not have addressed issues of governance. Incorporating local leaders into the army was also less about administration and more about military strategy and may not have effectively controlled the local population in terms of governance and loyalty.