Roads

• The Incas created a massive network of roadways to connect their cities. At its peak, the Incan highway system covered nearly 14,000 miles. Today, it is closer to 10,000 miles and can still be traveled. Roads ranged from simple dirt paths to smooth paved stone. The roads were used to simplify business and militarily proceedings as well as work as a line of communication between large cities. Messengers known as "chasqui" were positioned at intervals along the highways and relayed messages and small packages across the empire.
  
  

Khipus

• The khipus also known as "quipus" is believed to be a form of mathematical and possibly nonverbal communication using a system of knotted ropes connected by a master rope. A series of strings made from wool or cotton connected to a single rope were knotted at varying lengths and used different types of knots. Archaeologists believe this was a form of record keeping for various stocks. Researchers are still unsure of the exact use but have started compiling a database of all known information about the khipus in hopes of unraveling its secrets.
  
  

Terrace Farming

• The Incas lived in the steep hills of the Andes, and their farmers lacked level grounds to support their crops. To remedy this problem the people constructed a massive series of terraces throughout the empire, creating adequate farmland. The terraces were built in three steps. The first was to create a stone wall to hold up and level the land. The stones also worked to retain heat that radiated out at night and kept the crops from freezing. The second step was to lay a base of gravel within the stones and lastly to add a layer of topsoil.
  
  

Freeze Drying

• The high altitudes of the Incan villages led to freezing temperatures at night. The people used the cold to their advantage by laying out potatoes under a cloth and letting them freeze. In the morning the people would walk on the cloth to remove any moisture from the potatoes. The result was a freeze dried, lightweight food, known as chuño that required no curing and lasted for years. Incas could carry large quantities of chuño without adding weight to their load and could stockpile the food in case of failed farming seasons.