People of the Past: Adventures Across the World

The Inca – Mountain Builders

Who They Were
The Inca were a strong empire that lived high in the Andes mountains of South America. They ruled from about the 1200s to the 1500s.

What They Did

• They cut flat steps, called terraces, into steep hills so they could grow food.
• They built the famous stone city of Machu Picchu high on a mountain.
• They made a long road network called the Qhapaq ÑAn that connected far‑away valleys.

Why They Did It
The thin, rocky soil on the mountains made farming hard. By making terraces, the Inca could plant potatoes, quinoa, and corn on slopes that would otherwise be useless.
They needed to move armies, goods, and messages quickly, so they built roads that let riders travel fast across the rugged land.

Fun Facts

• The Inca never wrote letters, but they kept records with knotted strings called Quipu.
• Their stone walls are so tight that a piece of paper cannot fit between the stones. Engineers still study this skill today.

Quick Quiz

1. What Natural Feature Helped The Ancient Egyptians Grow Enough Food To Build Pyramids?

   • A) Desert sands
   • B) The yearly flooding of the Nile River
   • C) Mountain snowmelt

2. Why Did The Maya Plant Maize At Specific Times Of The Year?

   • A) To follow the moon’s phases
   • B) Because they liked the taste of fresh corn
   • C) Because their knowledge of the sun’s path told them the best planting season

3. Which Invention Let The Vikings Travel Long Distances Across The Ocean?

   • A) The steam engine
   • B) The longship with a shallow draft
   • C) The hot‑air balloon

Exploring amazing peoples like the Inca shows how curiosity and clever ideas can change the world.