The Inca economy was one of the most organized and efficient economic systems of the medieval world. It developed in the Andean region of South America under the Inca Empire, which flourished during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Unlike many contemporary societies, the Inca economy was not based on money, markets, or private trade. Instead, it functioned through state control, collective labor, and redistribution of resources. Agriculture formed the backbone of the Inca economy. Since much of the empire consisted of mountainous terrain, the Incas developed terrace farming to cultivate crops on steep slopes. They grew maize, potatoes, quinoa, beans, and several other crops. Advanced irrigation systems helped increase agricultural productivity. Different ecological zones within the empire allowed the cultivation of a wide variety of products, ensuring food security. Land was generally divided into three