Quechua people

Quick Facts: Who was Quechua people?

Subject:

Quechua people

Known for:

Indigenous peoples of South America speaking Quechuan languages, deeply rooted in Andean culture.

Died:

Living / None

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Quechua people (, US also ; Spanish: [ˈketʃwa] ) , Quichua people or Kichwa people are indigenous peoples of South America who speak the Quechuan languages, which originated among the Indigenous people of Peru. Although most Quechua speakers are native to Peru, there are some significant populations in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. The most common Quechua dialect is Southern Quechua. The Kichwa people of Ecuador speak the Kichwa dialect; in Colombia, the Inga people speak Inga Kichwa. The Quechua word for a Quechua speaker is runa or nuna ("person"); the plural is runakuna or nunakuna ("people").

Career & Major Achievements

"Quechua speakers call themselves Runa -- simply translated, "the people". Quechua became Peru's second official language in 1969 under the military dictatorship of Juan Velasco Alvarado. There have been later tendencies toward nation-building among Quechua speakers, particularly in Ecuador (Kichwa) but also in Bolivia, where there are only slight linguistic differences from the Peruvian version. An indication of this effort is the umbrella organization of the Kichwa people in Ecuador, ECUARUNARI (Ecuador Runakunapak Rikcharimuy). Some historical Quechua people are: The Chanka people lived in the Huancavelica, Ayacucho, and Apurímac regions of Peru.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Huanca people of the Junín Region of Peru spoke Quechua before the Incas did. The Inca established the largest empire of the pre-Columbian era. The Chincha, an extinct merchant kingdom of the Chincha Islands of Peru. The Qolla inhabited the Potosí, Oruro, and La Paz departments of Bolivia. The Cañari of Ecuador adopted the Quechua language from the Inca.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1969: 1969 Milestone — Quechua became Peru's second official language in 1969 under the military dictatorship of Juan Velasco Alvarado.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Quechua people

True or False: “The traditional land ownership system among the Quechua people is based on individual private property rights established during colonial times.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Traditionally, land was owned by the local community (ayllu), which involved joint cultivation or annual redistribution rather than purely individual private ownership.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Quechua people