Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong Land of Vital Blood: Pre-Columbian America
45 snips
Nov 1, 2017 AI Snips
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Maya Astronomy Produced Superior Calendars
- The Maya built highly mathematical calendars and observatories; their calendar measured the year more precisely than some contemporary Eurasian systems.
- Maya political fragmentation into city-states and later climate-driven decline shows fragile urban dependence on local environmental conditions.
Chinampa Agriculture Fueled Tenochtitlan's Growth
- Valley of Mexico highlands became the later urban core as climate shifted; Aztec chinampa farming produced massive maize surpluses supporting Tenochtitlan's possible million residents.
- Chinampas were intensive floating gardens enabling dense urban markets and specialization.
Andean Verticality Enabled Intensified Agriculture
- The Andes' vertical ecology allowed multi-elevation agriculture on terraces, enabling diverse crops and food surpluses within walking distance.
- That verticality made large Andean states viable despite rugged terrain, underpinning later Inca expansion.