Nat Geo 7th Grade - Chapter 7 Section 1.4

In what ways do civilizations adapt to the environments in which they live?

The Inca adapted to life high in the Andes Mountains through ingenious building techniques. Lesson 1.4 describes Inca architecture.

The Inca had no iron, no steel, nor even the wheel when they built Machu Picchu. The stones are laid so tightly together that even a knife cannot be wedged between them; they used no mortar to cement them. Scholars think that this tremendously difficult building feat was created for fewer than 1,000 people who lived there. Its purpose could have been a military base, a site for ceremonies, or a retreat for the rich. Because the Inca left no written records, we may never know.

Students will Discover the Inca’s extraordinary building skills in mountain surroundings.