How did geography affect the Inca Empire?
The Inca Empire had to govern not just north and south across a large empire, but also vertically along the Andes Mountains.
The Inca Empire expanded from North America into South America, making it difficult to govern over long distances.
The Inca Empire's expansion into the Amazon River basin gave them a diverse set of climates to govern.
The Inca Empire was geographically small in size, but the height of the Andes Mountains made it difficult to govern.
Geography greatly affected the Inca Empire in several ways:
1. The rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains impacted the Inca Empire's transportation and communication systems. The steep slopes, high elevations, and narrow mountain passes made travel and the movement of goods challenging. However, the Inca developed an extensive network of roads and bridges to overcome these geographic obstacles, such as the famous Inca Trail.
2. The vertical nature of the Andes Mountains also created diverse ecosystems and climates within the empire. This allowed the Inca to exploit various resources and develop sophisticated agricultural techniques, including terraced farming. They could grow different crops at different altitudes, ensuring a stable food supply for their vast empire.
3. The Inca Empire's expansion from North America into South America meant that it encompassed a wide range of geographical features, such as high mountains, coastal regions, deserts, and the Amazon rainforest. This diversity presented challenges in terms of governing and managing such distinct regions with different resource potentials, climates, and cultural practices.
4. The vast size of the Inca Empire made it difficult to govern over long distances. In order to maintain control, the Inca used a system of administrative centers and efficient communication networks. They established regional capitals, called Cusco and Quito, and used the "quipu" system of knotted cords for record-keeping and communication.
Overall, geography had a profound impact on the Inca Empire, influencing their transportation, communication, agricultural practices, resource management, and governance strategies. The intricate adaptations made by the Inca civilization to overcome geographic challenges played a significant role in the success and longevity of their empire.