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The Agricultural Innovations of the Incas
Explore how the Incas revolutionized agriculture in the Andes through terraces and irrigation systems, cultivating diverse crops like potatoes and maize.
Video Summary
The Incas, a civilization nestled in the steep slopes of the Andes, showcased remarkable ingenuity in expanding their agricultural lands. Through the utilization of innovative techniques such as terraces and irrigation systems, they were able to cultivate a diverse array of crops, fundamentally altering the agricultural landscape of the region.
One of the most significant contributions of the Incas was the cultivation of over 200 varieties of potatoes and maize. These crops played a pivotal role in the sustenance of the Inca population, serving as essential food sources that provided vital nutrients and sustenance. Maize, in particular, held a revered status among the Incas, being considered a divine crop that symbolized abundance and prosperity.
The impact of Inca agriculture extended far beyond the borders of their empire. Maize, a crop of immense importance to the Incas, eventually found its way to Europe through the process of exploration and trade. Today, maize stands as one of the most widely cultivated cereals globally, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Inca agricultural innovations.
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Keypoints
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Inca Agriculture Techniques
The Incas cultivated the mountainous terrain of the Andes by domesticating steep slopes through innovative farming techniques. They constructed famous terraced cultivation areas known as 'andenes', along with aqueducts and channels on mountain slopes. These advancements allowed them to harvest a variety of crops, including over 200 species of potatoes and maize, contributing significantly to their civilization's success.
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Inca Agricultural Contributions
The Inca civilization made substantial contributions to agriculture, cultivating and harvesting more than 200 species of potatoes, along with maize. Maize, considered divine and reserved for the elite, became a staple crop that could be stored for extended periods, ensuring food security. The introduction of these crops by the Incas had a lasting impact on global agriculture, with maize now being the most widely cultivated cereal worldwide.