Chinampas
Definition
Chinampas are man-made islands created by weaving reeds together and anchoring them with mud from the lake bottom. They were used for agriculture by ancient Mesoamerican societies like the Aztecs.
Analogy
Imagine chinampas as floating garden beds. Just like garden beds are filled with fertile soil to grow plants efficiently in your backyard; chinampas were filled with rich lake mud to grow crops effectively on water bodies.
Related terms
Agriculture: The science or practice of farming including cultivation of soil for growing crops.
Mesoamerica Agriculture: The various types of agriculture practiced by indigenous cultures across different regions within Mesoamerica such as maize cultivation or cacao farming.
Aztecs: An ethnic group central to Mesoamerica who established a vast empire prior to Spanish conquest; known for their complex social structure and innovative agricultural practices including chinampas system.
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