Aztec+Agriculture

=Aztec Farming and Agriculture=

By: Anthony Aguad
Once a group of people grows too large to sustain itself through hunting alone, it becomes necessary for that group to settle in a specific location and begin to grow its own food. Agriculture was essential to the Aztec life since it, not only enabled the survival of their civilization, but stimulated their economy. The amount of food that needed to be produced to sustain such a vast empire required the implication of multiple farming strategies. The Aztecs invented and perfect many different farming methods. They developed intricate irrigation systems, employed slash and burn technique to clear land, spread fertilizers in order to improve the content of the soil, and even cut terraces into the hillsides to create more viable farmland. However, the most important innovation that was made by this civilization, in terms of agriculture, was the chinampas.

Chinampas, translated as “floating gardens”, was a particularly ingenious method of farming innovated by the Aztecs. These chinampas are believed to have fed anywhere from one-half to two-thirds of the population. They are, however, not literally floating gardens. Chinampas are actually strips of land surrounded by canals dug into the marshes and swampland. Mud that the Aztecs dredged from the canals was piled onto large mats made from woven reeds. They tied these mats to posts that had already been firmly planted in bottom of the lake so that they would remain stationary. Once this was done, the men planted willow trees were planted at the corners of the mats in order to permanently hold them in place. The roots of these trees would grow rapidly until they adhered to the lakebed.

Chinampas allowed the Aztecs to overcome the greatest of problems in terms of agriculture in this marshy climate . The temperature at night would drop low enough to cause frost to form on the plants. The rain was so unpredictable that it was unreliable as a source of nourishment for crops. This made the chinampas the perfect system. The fact that the fields of crops were only about a meter or so above the water allowed the soil to always be rich with moisture. Should that not be enough, the irrigation from all the canals that were dug to create the chinampas would supplement the benefits derived from the crops proximity to the water. The water also moderated temperatures at night decreasing the likelihood of destructive frost forming on the crops. 



 The process for cultivating the crops was very simple, yet effective. The fertility of the soil was maintained by regular addition of compost, vegetation, and rich silt from the bottom of the canals. The farmers would first place the seeds in a specially designed seed-bed that provided the seeds with the perfect environment to sprout. After germination, the farmers would plant the seedlings in the fields. This procedure for crop-cultivation normally took place year-round. Often considered a disadvantage, the Aztecs did not have any animals to aid them in their farming. However, the system developed by the Aztecs did not require the use of animal labor. All that they did need was very soft land in order to grow their crops utilizing the tools that they had at their disposal. This is just another reason why the chinampas were so useful-- the soil was so soft that all that was needed was a plain, wooden stick for digging and a simple, wooden hoe in order to plant and harvest all the crops that they needed to sustain their society. .

The chinampas were used for the majority of the Aztecs crops-- avocados, chili peppers, beans, squash, tomatoes, and, most importantly, corn. Corn was vital to the Aztecs because it was their main product since it was the easiest crop to grow in the region. The roots of the crops extended deep into the chinampa and fed off of the water supply located directly beneath. Thanks to the design of these chinampas, there was an endless supply of nourishment for the Aztecs' crops.  Sadly, very few of these chinampas still exist due to the increased urbanization of Mexico. Fortunately, there are a few examples of this great agricultural feat, such as the famous tourist attraction, the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco. Boats passing through are filled with tourists looking to see what all the fuss is about with these “floating farms.” Every year people get in line, with tour boats packed in, side by side, in order to witness the chinampas for themselves.

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 * Another technique that was employed by the Aztecs was known as “slash and burn”. This farming strategy involved cutting down trees in a specific location and then burning the area. Afterwards, farmers would come through and plant their crops in the now clear landscape. This is largely known as Mayan technique, but the Aztecs utilized it just as effectively. ||



Another key aspect of the Aztecs’ diet was marine life. Fisherman used nets made from the fibers of the maguey cactus to catch a plethora of marine life, such as fish, turtles, and ducks, in order to feed their growing population.

Agriculture plays one of the most important roles in any society, perhaps even the most important role. People need to eat. Since farming relies so heavily on the weather and the environment, producing enough crops, consistently, to satisfy a population is difficult. Because of this, the Aztecs’ ingenuity with their chinampas was necessary for survival. They devised a system that, although labor-intensive, gave them the resources they needed to sustain their empire. 

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