Answer :
Final answer:
The Inca's step terraces positively impacted their environment by preventing soil erosion, creating micro-climates for diverse crops, and enhancing water conservation. These agricultural adaptations helped to sustain a large population and remain in use today, demonstrating their sustainable approach and technological achievement.
Explanation:
The Inca civilization utilized an innovative agricultural technique known as terrace farming to overcome the challenges of farming in the steep Andean mountains. Terrace farming involved creating step terraces along the mountain contours, which significantly impacted the environment. These terraces allowed for the cultivation of flat, arable land by building retaining walls filled with loose stones to improve drainage and topped with soil for planting crops.
This adaptation led to a multitude of environmental benefits. Terraces effectively combated soil erosion and created micro-climates that supported the growth of various crops such as maize (corn), potatoes, and coca at different elevations. By enabling intensive agriculture, the Inca were able to sustain a large population while mastering the climate and topography of the region. Moreover, they incorporated complex irrigation systems, helped to conserve water, and facilitated the creation of a diverse ecosystem, enhancing food security for the Inca society. The use of guano as fertilizer and the development of a road network to transport goods further demonstrate their ingenuity in optimizing these terraced environments.
The ecological foresight of the Inca is further underscored by the fact that even after centuries, many of these terraces remain in use today, showcasing their sustainable approach to modifying their landscape. The step terraces and advanced agricultural techniques of the Inca laid the foundation for their prosperity and stability, even with the lack of certain tools and technologies.
