ABSTRACT
In 1533, Sebastian de Benalcazar began the conquest of the territory later incorporated into the Audiencia of Quito with 290 men; he was followed by Diego de Almagro with 30 men and Pedro de Alvarado with 500. The conquistadors took advantage of other institutions to appropriate Indian labor. Among the founders of Quito, twenty-four citizens "of some social distinction" were assigned, in addition to land, varying numbers of Indians destined for labor. Nearly all of the arable land in the geographic area that became the Audiencia of Quito initially belonged to the princes and priests of the Inca Empire. The economy of the Audiencia of Quito underwent a shift from mining activities during the sixteenth century to agricultural and pastoral pursuits during the following two centuries. Artisans and those of lower social standing were excluded from the cabildo and the indigenous cabildos had no voice whatsoever in political matters.
