Yanacuna

a category of dependent persons in the Inca state. According to some scholars, the yanacuna were slaves; others believe they were servants or militiamen, and still others claim they were dependent artisans.

Derived from yanacuna is “yanacona,” which refers to sharecroppers who appeared in the 19th century in Bolivia and Peru. The yanaconas sign a written contract to lease a parcel of land. Rent is paid in farm services, in money, in kind, or a combination thereof.