Domestication of the Potato The Inca were masters of the potato, domesticating numerous varieties specifically suited to the high Andes. This centralized stockpile meant that in the event of a local famine, the state could rapidly redistribute food to affected areas, preventing widespread starvation.
Inca Famine Defense: The Waru Waru System and Agricultural Innovation
These flat platforms created microclimates at different altitudes, effectively multiplying the types of crops that could be grown within a single valley and spreading the risk of a single-point failure. Unlike many societies dependent on a single crop, their survival strategy was a sophisticated, multi-layered system designed to ensure food security against the ever-present threat of famine and poor harvests.
Centralized Storage and Distribution A cornerstone of the Inca state’s power was its control over food storage. Religious ceremonies were conducted to appease the earth and weather deities, embedding the food production cycle in a spiritual framework that reinforced community discipline and resilience.
Inca Famine Defense: The Waru Waru System and Agricultural Innovation
Agricultural Innovation on the Steep Slopes The Inca adapted to their challenging topography with remarkable ingenuity, transforming steep mountainsides into productive farmland. The Inca state organized communal labor, known as mita, which was used to build terraces, maintain irrigation canals, and harvest crops.
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