Question

How did the Aztec and Inca empires adapt their natural environments by creating man-made farmland?

a) Using terrace farming and irrigation systems to maximize agricultural output.
b) Building aqueducts and utilizing crop rotation techniques.
c) Constructing raised beds and implementing soil enrichment methods.
d) Developing canal systems and employing advanced irrigation practices.

Answer 1

The Aztec and Inca empires adapted their natural environments by using terrace farming, irrigation systems, aqueducts, and canals to maximize agricultural output and control soil fertility. So, the option a is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Aztec and Inca civilizations ingeniously molded their natural surroundings to enhance agricultural productivity through adept adaptations like terrace farming and sophisticated irrigation systems.

In Lake Texcoco, the Aztecs implemented chinampas, elevated planting-beds on floating platforms, optimizing land use.

Meanwhile, the Incas employed terraces strategically etched into mountain contours, crafting level, and cultivable expanses.

Both societies harnessed aqueducts, canals, and soil enhancement techniques to guarantee effective irrigation and sustain soil fertility.

By integrating these innovative agricultural practices, the Aztecs and Incas demonstrated resourcefulness in manipulating their environments, utilizing geography to their advantage and establishing sustainable methods that significantly contributed to the prosperity of their empires.

The combination of terrace farming and advanced irrigation underscored their profound understanding of agriculture, marking a pivotal aspect of their cultural and technological achievements.

Therefore, the option a is correct, using terrace farming and irrigation systems to maximize agricultural output.

Answer 2

The Aztec and Inca empires created man-made farming areas using terrace farming and irrigation systems to cope with their challenging environments, with the Inca using terraces in the mountains and the Aztecs building chinampas in marshy lake areas. Option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Aztec and Inca empires adapted to their natural environments by creating man-made farmland.

The best answer among those provided is a) Using terrace farming and irrigation systems to maximize agricultural output.

In the steep Andean mountain regions, the Inca developed terrace farming, cutting flat areas into the mountainsides which allowed them to grow crops on land that would otherwise be too steep to cultivate.

They used irrigation systems to provide water to these terraces, ensuring that crops could grow despite the rugged terrain.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs, who settled in the marshy lake region of the Valley of Mexico, constructed chinampas or floating gardens.

These were essentially artificial islands created from mud and vegetation over shallow lake beds.

The Aztecs were able to increase their land for agriculture by constructing these raised beds and further enriching the soil through specific methods, contributing to their capacity to support a large population.

Hence, the right answer is option A.