Editing Muisca (section)

== Political and administrative organization ==
{{Main|Muisca Confederation}}
[[File:ConfederaciónMuisca.png|right|thumb|260px|Territory of the [[Muisca Confederation]];<br />Showing the [[Zipa]], [[Zaque]], and [[Muisca Confederation#Independent caciques|Independent territories]]]]
The Muisca people were organized in a [[confederation]] that was a loose union of polities that each retained sovereignty. The confederation was not a kingdom, as there was no absolute monarch, nor was it an [[empire]], because it did not dominate other ethnic groups or peoples. It is hard to compare the Muisca Confederation with other American civilizations, such as the [[Aztec]] or the [[Inca]] empires as it was more similar to a confederation of states, such as the [[Achaean League]]. The Muisca Confederation was one of the biggest and best-organized confederations of tribes on the South American continent.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.historiacultural.com/2009/06/cultura-chibcha-muisca-ceramica-oro.html Muisca culture] – Historia Universal – accessed 20-04-2016</ref>

Every tribe within the confederation was ruled by a chief or a [[cacique]]. Most of the tribes were part of the Muisca ethnic group, sharing the same language and culture and forming relations through trade. They united in the face of a common enemy. The army was the responsibility of the ''zipa'' or ''zaque''. [[Guecha warrior|Güeches]], the traditional ancient warriors of the Muisca, made up the military.

The Muisca Confederation existed as the union of two lesser confederations. The southern confederation, headed by the ''[[zipa]]'', had its capital at Bacatá (now [[Bogotá]]). This southern polity included most of the Muisca population and held greater economic power.

The northern territory was ruled by the ''zaque'', and had its capital in Hunza, known today as [[Tunja]]. Although both areas had common political relations and affinities and belonged to the same tribal nation, rivalries still existed between them. Among the territories there were four chiefdoms: [[Bacatá]], [[Tunja|Hunza]], [[Duitama]], and [[Sogamoso]]. The chiefdom was composed by localities.<ref name="Londoño">{{in lang|es}} [http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/publicacionesbanrep/bolmuseo/1996/enjl40/enjn04a.htm The place of religion in the Muisca social organization] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125231107/http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/publicacionesbanrep/bolmuseo/1996/enjl40/enjn04a.htm |date=2007-01-25 }} – Museo del Oro – Biblioteca Luís Ángel Arango</ref> The tribes were divided into ''Capitanías'' (ruled by a capitan). There were two kinds: ''Great Capitania'' (''sybyn'') and ''Minor Capitania'' (''uta''). The status of ''Capitan'' was inherited by maternal lineage.<ref name="Londoño"/>

:Confederation (''zipa'' or ''zaque'')
::→ <span style="color:red;">Priests ([[Iraca]])</span>
:::→ <span style="color:green;">Chiefdoms (Cacique)</span>
::::→ <span style="color:orange;">''Capitanía'' (Capitan)</span>
:::::→ <span style="color:blue;">Sybyn</span>
::::::→ <span style="color:violet;">Uta</span>

* '''Territories of the ''zipa''''':
# '''[[Bacatá|Bacatá rule]]''': [[Teusaquillo]], [[Tenjo]], [[Subachoque]], [[Facatativá]], [[Tabio]], [[Cota, Cundinamarca|Cota]], [[Chía, Cundinamarca|Chía]], [[Engativá]], [[Usme]], [[Zipaquirá]], [[Nemocón]] and [[Zipacón]]
# [[Fusagasugá|Fusagasugá District]]: [[Fusagasugá]], [[Pasca]] and [[Tibacuy]]
# [[Ubaté|Ubaté District]]: [[Ubaté]], [[Cucunubá]], [[Simijaca]], [[Susa, Cundinamarca|Susa]]
# [[Guatavita|Guatavita District]]: [[Gachetá]], [[Guatavita]] and [[Suesca]], [[Chocontá]], [[Teusaquillo|Teusacá]], [[Sesquilé]], [[Guasca]], [[Sopó]], [[Usaquén]], [[Suba (Bogotá)|Tuna]], [[Suba (Bogotá)|Suba]]
* '''Territories of the ''zaque''''': 
** '''[[Tunja|Hunza rule]]''': [[Soracá]], [[Ramiriquí]], [[Samacá]], [[Machetá]], [[Tenza]], [[Tibiritá]], [[Lenguazaque]] and [[Turmequé]]
* '''Territory of [[Duitama|Tundama]]''': [[Cerinza]], [[Oicatá]], [[Onzaga]], [[Sativanorte]], [[Sativasur]], [[Soatá]], [[Paipa]], [[Floresta, Boyacá|Tobasia]]
* '''Territory of [[Sogamoso|Sugamuxi]]''': [[Busbanzá]], [[Toca, Boyacá|Toca]], [[Pesca]], [[Pisba, Boyacá|Pisba]], [[Tópaga, Boyacá|Tópaga]]
* '''Autonomous chiefdoms''': [[Charalá]], [[Chipatá, Santander|Chipatá]], [[Tinjacá]], [[Saboyá]], Tacasquirá

Muisca legislation was [[customary law]]; that is, their rule of law was determined by long-extant customs with the approval of the ''zip'' or ''zaque''. This kind of legislation was suitable for a well-organized confederation system. Natural resources could not be privatized: woods, lakes, plateaus, rivers, and other natural resources were common goods.