Final answer:
The Inca Empire's diverse physical features included the Andes Mountains, canyons, deserts, and variable climate conditions, influencing their unique infrastructure, advanced agriculture, and labor-based economy. A sophisticated road and bridge network enabled control over the harsh yet resource-rich environment, which included mineral wealth like gold and silver.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physical Features of the Inca Empire
The Inca Empire featured a challenging landscape, necessitating a sophisticated infrastructure for travel and communication. This region of South America included vast mountain ranges like the Andes, large canyons, coastal deserts such as the Atacama, and varied weather conditions. The Inca constructed a complex network of roads and bridges, including up to 25,000 miles of pathways through diverse terrains. Their infrastructure facilitated military movement, trade, and the transportation of goods to imperial storehouses.
Agriculture in the empire was advanced, with terraced systems for irrigation and micro-climates for diverse crops including corn, potatoes, and coca. The economy also benefited from the extraction of minerals like gold and silver from the Andes. Despite the harsh environments, the Incas successfully controlled the land, which was crucial for their economic prosperity and military strength.
The empire's population is believed to have been around 12 million, governed by an emperor who divided the territory into administrative regions. The Inca society was marked by a lack of a monetary system; instead, labor tax was used as a means of contribution and ensuring provision for the people. The wealth of physical features such as the Andes Mountains and the mineral-rich soils contributed greatly to the Inca's success, supporting their spiritual, administrative, and economic systems.