Re: Why live in the Andes?


"MiRe" <MiRe@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:bYadnR6Z5Z7hR3TZnZ2dnUVZ8qudnZ2d@xxxxxxxxx

Hi all,
Do any of you guys have any idea why anyone would want to live in the
Andes? I mean, low oxygen, earthquakes, poor soils, cold arid
conditions
all add up to a pretty rough deal, Right? They even have to chew coca
leaves to help them cope with with life up there. So what might have
happened down in the lowlands (assuming they originated in the
lowlands),
that made them think that living way up in the Andes might be a safer
or
better altenative?
This is a serious question guys and any help would be appreciated. TIA.

MiRe
©¿©¬


Hi MiRe,

though I don't really have an answer to your question, I will give it a try.

I think usually people stay where they can make a living, and move on when
conditions get worse. Assumed that the people of the Andes originated in the
coastal areas of South America, there would be two scenarios thinkable which
might have caused their move to the highlands:

1. Worsening of the environment, maybe caused by an intensive period of El
Niños or some other major climate change, maybe connected with droughts over
several years, which forced the people to follow the valleys upwards to find
sufficiant water supply.

2. The other scenario would be that the lowland dwellers thrived and
multiplied in a way that there was no longer room enough for all the tribes
to coexist and make a decent living. With a population increase there would
have been a period of wars and strife about the remaining ressources, so
some tribes tried to make a living in the less attractive places like
mountain slopes and cold highlands.

I don't think that this happened in a sudden movement, but rather a
long-term process so that the people could gradually adapt to the climate
and height conditions.

I don't claim to be an expert on this, it's just my 5 cents worth. :-)



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