The Inca civilization is credited with cultivating which crop first?

The Inca civilization is credited with cultivating which crop first?

• A. Potato
• B. Corn
• C. Rice
• D. Wheat

Answer: (A)

Potatoes are native to the Andean highlands and were domesticated there by Andean peoples long before Europeans arrived. The Inca built extensive farming systems around this crop, developing many potato varieties and terraces to feed a large population. In contrast, corn originated in Mesoamerica, while rice and wheat come from Asia and Europe, respectively, and were not native to the Inca region. So, among these crops, the potato fits the Inca’s agricultural history best as the crop they cultivated first in their homeland.

Potatoes are native to the Andean highlands and were domesticated there by Andean peoples long before Europeans arrived. The Inca built extensive farming systems around this crop, developing many potato varieties and terraces to feed a large population. In contrast, corn originated in Mesoamerica, while rice and wheat come from Asia and Europe, respectively, and were not native to the Inca region. So, among these crops, the potato fits the Inca’s agricultural history best as the crop they cultivated first in their homeland.