Essay on Agriculture in the Incan Empire - 2197 Words

At the time of their demise, the Incan Empire had nearly as many domesticated plant species as all of Eurasia. There was no sign of the wheel or work animals that could be yoked to a plow, and the Incans had limited use of metallurgy. Yet the mighty South American empire terraced, irrigated, and produced enough food for millions of people. The Incans were able to sustain agricultural surpluses by intensive exploitation of the land and sophisticated methods of storage and dispersal of grains and tubers. Through a culture based on agriculture the Incans were able to expand their empire into one of the largest in the New World. Until their demise, the Incans used agriculture as a unifying force in several different ways. Empires throughout†¦show more content†¦The Incans were astute in that they cultivated as many of the climactic zones as possible. Cultivating a wide range of crops in varying climates protected the Incans, to certain extent, from crop failure . Safeguarding laypeople against unpredictable environmental conditions created a sense of unity in that it allowed the Incans to feed nonproducing sectors of society, such as state messengers, various artisans, metalworkers, and the thousands of warriors needed to conquer a portion of western half of South America from Chile to Ecuador. In 1460 AD, the Incans conquered a region from the native Huancas, Xauxa, of South America that proved to be both logistically and environmentally important to the empire. Prior to the Incan invasion, the Huancas densely fortified themselves on hilltops in defensive, nucleated bands or tribes. The Huanca clearly saw security as an issue. Yet after the Incans introduced their methods of subsistence agriculture, the Huancas began moving down slope to inhabit the low-lying river valleys where crops could be grown and surpluses could be accumulated. At the same time, the Incans began adopting Huancan polities into regional and state government, a transition made easier since food production was not an overriding concern. Here the Incans have used their agricultural practices as a unifying force to incorporate a conquered tribe into the empire, a common theme for theShow MoreRelatedAztec, Inca And Aztec Civilizations1134 Words   |  5 PagesBefore the legendary empires of the Roman s and the Greeks, there were other prospering civilizations thriving in parts of Central America and parts of Mexico. The Mayan, Incan and Aztec civilizations were a few of the greatest ancient civilizations in history, but they each had distinct characteristics that helped them prosper into the great empires that they became. Each had their own fascinating ways of food production, governing system and culture. The Mayans were established first out of theRead MoreAztecs And Incas : Similarities And Differences1422 Words   |  6 Pagessouthern Peru to central Chile. With a society based on agriculture, the Incas farmed the terrain of the Andes Mountains west of their capital at Cuzco. The Incas suffered a fall to the Spaniards in 1532. The Aztecs from the Valley of Mexico in the 1400s and the Incas from throughout the Andes Mountains during the 1400s are similar and different because of their ideological and intellectual values, their rise and fall by conquest of their empires, and the way they applied the characteristics of theirRead MoreDbq 9: Civilizations of the Americas1258 Words   |  6 PagesDBQ 9: Civilizations of the Americas The Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations each contributed major accomplishments to the world today. These accomplishments established them as advanced societies during their time. The Incans built a large road system, devised a complex irrigation system and developed their own language. The Mayans constructed the largest structure known until modern times, made drastic accomplishments in mathematics, studied astronomy and formed a calendar. The Aztecs builtRead MoreTaking a Look at the Inca Civilizaiton1699 Words   |  7 Pagestheir own flag which is a very impressive thing about this civilization because flags gained prominence only in 17th-18th century. Incas were the most powerful Empire in that region ruling more 12 million people for around 100 years. Incas are believed to be ruling from 1438 A.D- 1532 A.D with Aristocratic ruling system in the society. Inca Empire was founded by Ayar Manco, popularly known Manco Capac and was known as Sapa Inca â€Å"child of the sun†. Incas were firm believer in god worshipping creator godRead MoreInca Empire Significance2119 Words   |  9 PagesWhat made the Incan Empire so historically significant? Rachael Cardenas Block 6B From 1438 to 1535, the Incan Empire made a historical impact. The Incan Empire was located in South America on the western coast in the present countries of Peru. (Tagle.) Three-fourths of the Empire was located within present day Peru. Since the rule of the Empire did descend through familial ties, the ruling emperor was chosen on account by his family dynasty. (Hutagalung.) The empire of the Incas merits importanceRead MoreCompare and Contrast Essay (Aztec and Incas)833 Words   |  4 Pages The Aztec and Inca Empires arose 1000 to 1500 century C.E. in Mesoamerica and South America. The Aztecs arrived in central Mexico approximately the fifteenth century. The Incas settled in the region around Lake Titicaca about mid-thirteenth century and by the late fifteenth century, the Incas had built an enormous empire stretching more the 4,000 kilometers. Both empires were enormous, the Incan Empire ended up being the largest state in South America. Neither empire had developed a writt enRead MoreMayan, Aztec, Incan Dbq768 Words   |  4 Pagestime without the influence of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Some of these accomplishments ranged from agriculture to architecture and on to writing and trade. Such as, the Mayans with their agriculture system of chinampas and there monumental temple/pyramids, the Aztecs with their trading in the city of Tenochtitlan, and the Incas with their road and bridge system connecting the whole empire. The Mayans were the first of the three civilizations. Although they were first they had many achievementsRead MoreHuman Expansion through Environmental Interaction Essay682 Words   |  3 Pagesdelineating Pizarro’s conquest of the Incan Empire. â€Å"Collision at Cajamarca† details the Spanish victory over a large Inca army and the capture of the Incan monarch Atahualpa with a smaller force. The main advantage of the Spanish leading to their victory is their possession of advanced weaponry and horses that led to the dismay and slaughter nearly eighty thousand Incan soldiers and administrators. Disease also played an indirect role in the fall of the Inca Empire because smallpox killed large amountsRead MoreThe Major Empires Of West Africa From 1200-15001174 Words   |  5 PagesWhat were the major empires of West Africa from 1200-1500? What were their major industries, modes of social organization? What were their standards of living and lifespans compared to Europe? The Mali empire was established in 1235. It was the largest and the richest empire in the African Middle Ages. During this time Malian emperors relied on a small central administration, which was primarily concerned with finances and justice. (Patterns of World History pg. 400) The empire financed itself throughRead MoreEssay on The Columbian Exchange1075 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween Europe and the Americas. The interaction with Native Americans began the exchange of animals, plants, disease, and weapons. The most significant effects that the Colombian Exchange had on the Old World and New World were its changes in agriculture, disease, culture, and its effects on ecology. The immediate cause of the European voyages of discovery was the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. While Egypt and Italian city-state of Venice was left with a monopoly on