High School

Which best explains one of the ways in which the Inca used astronomy to manipulate their environment?

A. The Inca used astronomy to divide terraced farms in the Andes Mountains.
B. The Inca used astronomy to plan the stone structures and plazas of Machu Picchu.
C. The Inca used astronomy to help them keep records.
D. The Inca used astronomy to enforce mandatory labor requirements.

Answer :

Final answer:

The Inca used astronomy to align structures at Machu Picchu with celestial events, aiding agricultural planning.

Explanation:

Among the various ways the Inca civilization used astronomy to benefit their society, one of the most significant was related to their architectural achievements. Specifically, the Inca used astronomical alignments for planning structures within their ceremonial centers, as is evident in their design of Machu Picchu.

This site contains the Temple of the Sun, where windows are purposefully aligned with the sun during the solstices. These alignments provided a direct correlation with agricultural cycles and were used as a sundial to determine the best times for planting and harvesting crops. Through this sophisticated use of astronomy in architecture, they were better equipped to manage their environment and agricultural practices.

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