ancient Mesoamerican agriculture

Ancient Mesoamerican agriculture was highly sophisticated, centered around cultivating crops like maize (corn), beans, squash, chilies, and avocados. Farmers used methods such as terracing hillsides, creating chinampas (floating gardens), and integrating irrigation systems to maximize productivity. They practiced crop rotation and polyculture, growing multiple crops together to maintain soil health and reduce pests. These techniques supported large populations and complex societies like the Maya and Aztecs. Agriculture was deeply tied to their religion and culture, with rituals and calendars linked to planting and harvest cycles, demonstrating their advanced understanding of sustainable land management.