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Maize (Mesoamerican Cultivation)

Type Object Region Mesoamerica Time c. -7000

Maize originated from long-term domestication of wild teosinte by Mesoamerican peoples and by the late 15th century had become the core crop of the A…

Timeline

  1. c. -7000–900Tehuacán Valley · MexicoPeoples of the Mexican highlands and valleys selected maize with edible kernels, gradually developing local varieties adapted to different altitudes and rainfall.
  2. c. 1428–1480Tenochtitlan and chinampas of the Valley of Mexico · Valley of MexicoIn the 1470s the Aztecs used maize as the core of tribute and rations; chinampas and irrigated terraces enabled high-yield intensive cultivation in the valley around the capital.
  3. c. 1520–1700Spain and Mediterranean ports · SpainAfter Cortés's conquest, maize seeds spread by ship to Europe, Africa, and Asia, gradually becoming one of the world's most widely grown grains.
  4. c. 1900US Corn Belt · MidwestHybrid breeding and mechanization greatly increased maize yields, making it a key crop for feed, industrial raw materials, and global food security.

Sources