Answer :
Final answer:
Terrace farming was practiced extensively by the Inca in South America, adapting the land for agriculture in the steep Andes mountains. While the Chavin also engaged in advanced agricultural practices, terracing is most notably attributed to the Inca, whose terraces remain visible and in use today near sites like Machu Picchu.
Explanation:
The technique of terrace farming, where steps are cut into a mountainside to enable agriculture on steep slopes, was practiced extensively by the Incas in the Andes of South America. The Chavín culture earlier inhabited the Andean region and had also developed advanced techniques for farming, but there is no explicit evidence of them using terracing to the extent or in the manner of the Inca civilization. When it comes to terrace farming, the Inca were masters and expanded upon any previous agricultural methods. They built retaining walls on mountainsides, filled them with a layer of stones for drainage, and topped with soil. This innovation allowed for the cultivation of various crops by creating micro-climates and efficient irrigation systems capable of supporting a large population.
The Chavins did have systems of agriculture and irrigation in place, particularly in the Mosna Valley, where they farmed maize, potatoes, and quinoa and developed extensive irrigation canals. It is notable, however, that the Incas took terrace farming to an exemplary level, with their terraces still visible and part of the cultural landscape today, such as those near the famous Inca site of Machu Picchu.
Terrace farming was an important innovation across various cultures in high-altitude regions, allowing for the sustenance of large populations and adaptation to challenging environments. The Inca in particular fine-tuned this agricultural strategy and practiced it with a high degree of sophistication, as reflected by the extensive evidence of terraced landscapes around former Inca settlements.
Answer:
The Incas were masters of their harsh climate, ... cut terraces into the hillsides, progressively steeper, from the ... people are breathing new life into ancient practices
