Domesticated plants of Mesoamerica, established by agricultural developments and practices over several thousand years of pre-Columbian history, include maize and capsicum. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences A list of Mesoamerican cultivars and staples:
Maize
Maize (Zea Mays), known today as corn, was the biggest symbol in Mesoamerica. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica The first evidence for the domestication of maize was dated back to the ancient Olmec in 5050 BC. Newer dating techniques have revised this estimate to 2600 BC.
Maize was domesticated in Western Mexico and Mesoamerican cultures expanded wherever it was cultivated. It became widespread in the Late Archaic Period and was grown wherever conditions allowed.
The early use of maize focused on the consumption of unripend kernels. Before people settled into villages and began farming, the amount of time it took to invest in maize was too great. The output of wild maize did not justify the time and work needed to grow the crop.
However, maize could be both dried and stored which was very important to early Mesoamericans as it could be used on a year-round basis. Drying meant that it could be transported as well. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was often grown with maize. These two plants provide complimentary dietary amino acids. Since maize was such a significant part of the Mesoamerican diet, calcium was also added to maize by a grinding process using limestone.
Maize is also associated with festival and feast foods. Before it was domesticated and became a main crop, maize was used as a basis for beer. Beer was transported in decorated vessels and ceramic pottery. These vessels could be taken to social and ritual occasions.
Ritual events or festivals, such as ball games, feasts, and calendar turnings, involved the royal members who partook in the sacrifice of blood-letting and piercing as repayment to the gods for having given maize to the people that year.
Another example of how maize played such a large role in Mesoamerica, is when deities were portrayed with maize. Quetzalcoatl is connected as being a creator of humans in Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl (Quetzalcōhuātl keʦalˈkoːwaːtɬ is an Aztec sky and creator god. This deity is also seen as the one who took maize from the underworld and gave it to humans in the present world.
Capsicum
Capsicum is the generic name of the chile pepper plant, which is a native domesticated plant from Mesoamerica. Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic The chili pepper, chilli pepper, or chili, is the fruit of the plants from the Genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade Capsaicin reduces the bacterial load when something can not be refrigerated. In Mesoamerica, the capsaicin spice was also used to relieve joint pain, and as an intestinal stimulant, so capsicum is also known as a medicinal plant. The peppers from capsicum plants can be used in a fresh or dried state. A dried chile pepper is stronger and more effective than a fresh chile pepper.
During the Middle Archaic Period or the Coxcatlán phase, between 5700-3825 BC, the domestication of plants, such as the chile, was thought to have began. Mesoamerica's chile crops along with the majority of other food crops, were all domesticated by the Late Fromative Period. When the domestication of crops began, the majority of people were working at cultivating fields and crops like the chile. Chiles were a relied on source of food in Mesoamerican times. Chile crops were combined with maize, beans, and squash crops.
Chiles were a part of trade and gift giving. Chiefs or other elite members would use foods and stews spiced with chiles when involved in a feast. Using such strongly spiced foods was to show a stylistic and powerful approach to those receiving the dishes.
The chile plant was featured in different stews including vegetables, turkey, and dog meats and in chile-spiced tomato salsa with tortillas. Chiles were also added at times to cacao, when it was in a beverage form. In Mesoamerica, chiles were used for ritual purposes and therefore, the chile crops did not extend into North and South America like maize, beans, and squash. A cuisine distinct to Mesoamerica was a maize-and-chile pepper based food.
Squash*
(pumpkins, zucchini, acorn squash, butternut squash, others)
Pinto bean
(Frijol pinto) ("painted/speckled" bean; nitrogen-fixer traditionally planted in conjunction with the "two sisters", maize and squash, to help condition soil; runners grew on maize)
Tomato*
Potato*
Avocado*
(also known as “aguacate” in Spanish)
Cacahuate*
(Peanuts)
Chicle*
(also known as chewing gum)
Chocolate*
Vanilla
Black raspberry
Strawberry
(various cultivars; modern Garden strawberry was created by crossing sweet North American variety with plump South American variety)
Pineapple
(cultivated extensively)
Nopales*
(stem segments of [prickly pear] [Opuntia] [cactus])
- Tunas* (fruits of many different species of cultivated [Opuntia] [cactus])
Jicama*
Papaya*
Guayaba*
(guava fruit)
# Huautli*
(Amaranth grain; other species present on other continents)
Cherimoya*
(fruit)
Mamey*
(fruit, other parts of plants have noted uses)
Yerba Buena
(aromatic herb)
Sunflower seeds
(under cultivation in Mexico and Peru for thousands of years, also source of essential oils)
Cassava*
(edible starchy root also known as manioc; also used to make tapioca)
Tobacco*
(* Asterisk indicates a common English or Spanish word derived from an indigenous word)
Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending Nitrogen fixation is the process by which Nitrogen is taken from its natural relatively inert molecular form (N2 in the atmosphere and converted into The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae The avocado ( Persea americana) (from Nahuatl āhuacatl) also known as aguacate ( Spanish) butter pear or Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday Comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M Chicle is the Natural gum from Manilkara chicle, which is a tropical evergreen tree native to Central America. Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil Opuntia Nopales are a Vegetable made from the young stem segments of Prickly pear, carefully peeled to remove the spines They are particularly Tuna, are several Species of ocean-dwelling Fish in the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Jícama (Spanish hee -kah-mah from Nahuatl xicamatl hee -kah-mahtl also Mexican Potato and Mexican Turnip, is the name The papaya (from Carib via Spanish) is the Fruit of the Plant Carica papaya, in the genus Carica. Guava is a Genus of about 100 Species of Tropical Shrubs and small Trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs The cherimoya ( Annona cherimola) is a species of Annona Mamey is a commune of the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, in northeastern France. Yerba buena ( Clinopodium douglasii) is a rambling aromatic herb of western and northwestern North America, ranging from maritime Alaska southwards to The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an Annual plant in the family Asteraceae and native to the Americas, with a large flowering The cassava, yuca, manioc, or mandioca ( Manihot esculenta) is a woody Shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family native Tapioca is a flavorless colorless odorless Starch Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United StatesDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic