🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
The concept of the vertical archipelago was later articulated by anthropologist John Murra to explain Andean economic organization.
The vertical archipelago model describes how Andean societies, including the Inca, managed resources across varying altitudes. Highland communities accessed coastal and lowland zones through state-supervised exchange. Each ecological tier produced specialized crops or materials. Roads and llama caravans linked these zones into coordinated networks. The model reduced dependence on one climate or soil type. Imperial administration regulated flows using quipu records. Agricultural and resource diversity strengthened resilience. Economic strategy was geographic rather than monetary. Ecology shaped policy.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Multi-zone integration increased food security. Resource diversification reduced vulnerability to drought. Administrative coordination strengthened redistribution. Ecological planning reinforced political unity. Geographic intelligence replaced market mechanisms. Vertical integration sustained expansion. Environment anchored economy.
For communities, participation in multiple ecological tiers required seasonal adaptation. The irony lies in how altitude replaced currency as organizing principle. Mountains structured markets. Elevation became wealth.
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