Aztec Agriculture and Chinampas

In 1265, the Aztecs faced a severe food shortage due to limited land for agriculture. To address this, the leader proposed creating chinampas, or artificial islands, by placing stakes in the lake to expand farmland. These chinampas included irrigation systems and used human waste as fertilizer, significantly boosting food production. This innovation allowed families to produce twice the food they needed, with surplus supporting the empire.

What was the main issue faced by the Aztecs that led to a prolonged food shortage?

• Invasion by neighboring tribes

• Lack of water resources

• Insufficient land for crops

• Poor agricultural techniques

What innovative solution did the Aztec leader propose to address the food shortage?

• Trading with other tribes

• Creating artificial islands

• Developing new crop varieties

• Building underground storage

What were the artificial islands created by the Aztecs called?

• Chinampas

• Polders

• Aqueducts

• Terraces

What was used as fertilizer on the chinampas to enhance crop growth?

• Compost

• Chemical fertilizers

• Animal manure

• Human waste

How did the chinampas impact the food production for Aztec families?

• Reduced the need for trade

• Doubled the amount of food produced

• Decreased the labor required

• Increased dependency on imports