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Why was Machu Picchu important to the people of the past?

Why was Machu Picchu important to the people of the past?

Built in the fifteenth century, Machu Picchu could have simultaneously served as a center of worship, place for astronomical observation, and as a rest place of the royal family of the Inca Pachacutec, founder of the Inca Empire, or Tahuantinsuyo.

What is the importance of Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu symbolizes the excellent technical skill, and productivity of the Inca Empire in its apogee. Its location represents the former border of the Empire; this vast domain was tied together by an estimated 40,000km of road.

What was the most important thing for the inhabitants of Machu Picchu?

But most scholars agree that Machu Picchu was a sacred place, where its inhabitants worshiped the four elements, and other entities, animals and stars, which also were considered gods, especially to the sun.

How did the Incas use canals?

The canals captured water from rivers in the mountains during the rainy season and took it to places where it could infiltrate rocks that fed year-round springs further down the mountains, so maintaining river flow during the dry season.

What is Machu Picchu and why is it important to the Inca empire?

Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century.

Why is Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site?

Because the preservation state of Machu Picchu ruins is the best among other Inca Empire ruins, in addition with the excellent landscape of its surrounding natural environment that contains important fauna and flora, some of which are classified as endangered or vulnerable species, it was registered as a mixed World …

What was the function of Machu Picchu quizlet?

The main purpose of the city was to act as a “getaway” for the Emperor; however the site still has several significant religious sites, and had a permanent population. A temple to the sun and the principal temple in the city, this building has curving walls and unobstructed windows on each side.

Why was irrigation important to the Incas?

The complementation of terracing with the irrigation system had allowed the Inca to reclaim much of the slopes of the Andes for crop cultivation. In addition, terraces along the different altitudes created “microclimates” in which different species most suitable to each niche can flourish.

What was the most important crop to the Incas?

Potatoes were the most important ingredient in Inca diet and their main source of nourishment. The potato is one of Peru’s native crops and was domesticated more than 8000 years ago by pre-Inca cultures.