How did the environment influence the Inca empire?

Answer 1

Since the environment was not good for crops, the Incas built large flats of land in which they can farm on called terraces. They also build aqueducts as a (successful) way to irrigate their crops.

Answer 2

Aside from the ususal environmental impacts that any civilization has on the environment:

• converting native land to farms
• hunting and fishing
• sewerage disposal to local streams

the Inca introduced the first industrial pollution to South America. This was a result of their mining of cinnabar a Mercury containing ore. The ore itself was used as a red cosmetic but it was also heated to release metallic mercury used to give a silver shine to copper. The mercury poisoned the workers and contaminated significant areas of soil and water.