Agriculture in Mesoamerica

Agriculture in Mesoamerica combined domesticated crops, especially maize, beans, and squash, with diverse cultivation systems adapted to local environments, from milpas to irrigated fields.

Maize: A domesticated grass native to the Americas, cultivated for its grain and central to many cuisines. Its domestication made maize the principal staple in much of Mesoamerica.
Chinampa: A constructed agricultural plot in a shallow lake or wetland, formed from soil and organic matter. Chinampas supported intensive cultivation in the lakes of central Mexico.
Aztec agriculture: The farming practices of the Aztec Empire and its subject communities in central Mexico. Aztec food production combined chinampas, dryland fields, tribute, and market exchange.
Balsas River valley: A river basin in southwestern Mexico associated with early maize domestication. Evidence from the region links it to maize's early transformation.
Population growth: An increase in the number of people living in a population over time. More reliable food production could sustain denser Mesoamerican settlements.
Common bean: A domesticated legume whose seeds and pods are widely eaten. Beans supplied protein and grew alongside maize in complementary crop systems.
Terrace farming: The cultivation of stepped fields built across slopes to retain soil and manage water. Terraces made steep Mesoamerican terrain more usable for crops.
Maya agriculture: The farming practices of Maya communities across varied lowland and highland environments. Maya farmers adapted cultivation to forests, wetlands, and seasonal water shortages.
Teosinte: A group of wild grasses native to Mexico and Central America, including maize's closest wild relatives. Teosinte provides the wild ancestry from which maize was domesticated.
Mesoamerican urbanism: The development and organization of cities in ancient Mesoamerica. Agricultural surpluses helped supply cities and their specialized populations.

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