The reason for terrace farming in the Incan Empire was primarily to provide sunlight for farming. Terrace farming involves cutting steps into steep slopes, creating flat areas for farming. This allowed the Incas to maximize the amount of sunlight reaching their crops, promoting growth and higher yields.
Additionally, terrace farming also protected crops from excessive sun exposure. The Andean region where the Incan Empire thrived experiences intense sunlight, which can damage crops if not properly managed. By creating terraces, the Incas could control the amount of sunlight reaching their plants, preventing sunburn and other forms of damage.
Furthermore, terrace farming helped absorb rainwater more effectively. The steps of the terraces acted as mini-water catchment systems, allowing rainwater to be retained and slowly released into the soil. This prevented erosion and helped maintain soil fertility in the mountainous terrain of the Incan Empire.
Lastly, terrace farming provided places for sacrifices. The Incas practiced ritual sacrifices as part of their religious beliefs, and the terraces were often used as ceremonial sites. These sacrifices were seen as offerings to the gods to ensure agricultural fertility and productivity.
Overall, terrace farming in the Incan Empire served multiple purposes, including maximizing sunlight exposure, protecting crops from excessive sun, improving water management, and providing locations for religious sacrifices.
Analyze the reason for terrace farming in the Incan Empire. (1 point)
• Terrace farming provided sunlight for farming.
• Terrace farming protected crops from sun.
• Terrace farming absorbed rainwater better.
• Terrace farming provided places for sacrifices
1 answer