Domestic Rights in Indigenous Communal Lands: About the Expression “Menester” in 16th-Century Charcas, Viceroyalty of Peru

Abstract

This Chapter explores the impact of the visitas (inspections) of the repartimientos de indios that were implemented at the turn of the 16th century during the processes of composición (regularisation) of lands and the sale of baldíos concerning the restructuring of indigenous communal lands of the Charcas district in the Viceroyalty of Peru. In particular, it reflects on normative pluralism linked to the delimitation of standardised tenures for particular Indians or their households according to variable criteria, such as the fiscal status of their members, among others. Next, and bearing the diverse implementation in the Charcas context, it proposes an approach to the execution of the 1591 Royal Decrees in the repartimiento of Macha (North Potosí), also review-ing its concrete impact on domestic tenures, quality of life, and the dynamics between domestic and supra-domestic spheres for the manegement of land in the medium-term.