Incan Agriculture

Incan Agriculture explores the sophisticated and sustainable farming techniques of the Inca Empire, revealing how they fed a vast population in the challenging Andean environment. The book focuses on key innovations like terracing, which maximized arable land on steep slopes, and advanced irrigation systems that efficiently distributed water. The Incas also excelled at crop selection, prioritizing varieties suited for high altitudes, ensuring food security. Understanding these agricultural practices, developed centuries ago, offers valuable insights for modern agricultural challenges. The book examines the historical and environmental context of Incan agriculture, highlighting its adaptability across diverse ecosystems. Through an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on archaeological evidence, historical accounts, and modern scientific studies, it demonstrates the interconnectedness of Incan farming practices with their environment, social structures, and cultural beliefs. It progresses systematically, beginning with the fundamentals of Andean agriculture, dedicating chapters to terracing, irrigation, and crop selection, then analyzing the social and economic aspects of agricultural production, and concluding with the lasting legacy of Incan agriculture.