The Incas Never Had To Worry About Starvation

One of the interesting facts about the Incas and their empire is they were able to keep their family out of starvation because of the concepts of reciprocity and re-distribution of food throughout ancient communities; they also developed excellent means to dry their food, such as grains, vegetables, and even meat, to store them for longer periods of time.

In addition to the Incas' extensive and advanced farming system and food preservation techniques, the Incas' shared notion of ayni ensured that no one went hungry. Much of this system predates the Inca Empire, as Indians in the Andes have been using inventive agricultural practices including vertical terraces designed for polyculture for over 8,000 years.

In essence, the Incas gathered this wealth of agricultural expertise from the peoples they subjugated and ensured that everyone was taken care of equally. Refrigeration in round constructions known as qollcas was one such technique used by the Incas. "Qolqas" were mud and stone structures with thick walls and straw roofs, efficient buildings designed to keep cool temperatures to store food for years, such as grains, vegetables, and meat (Alpaca and Llama). Note that the qolcas were built with volcanic stones, which causes a natural process known as evapotranspiration, which keeps these structures dry.