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The willow trees didn't make the Aztecs more stable, they stabilized the Aztecs' capital of Tenochtitlan, made up of one small island and several floating islands in Lake Texcoco (now mostly dried up, but it was in the middle of present-day Mexico City).

These islands were the only land held by the original Aztecs, who migrated down from northern Mexico during a long drought. The Aztecs were fierce fighters, but originally didn't hold any land around the lake, it was held by three other tribes. Together these tribes could easily have defeated and eliminated the Aztecs, who were essentially living in a marsh, but they were always warring with each other. The Aztecs cleverly switched allegiance, always allying themselves with whichever tribe was outnumbered. Little by little, they became dominant, and eventually defeated all the other tribes, and by the time Cortez arrived, the Aztecs controlled most of Mexico.

However, to start with, they needed land to grow crops, and there was very little marshy land in the lake. Here is a description of what they did to survive, from the "Farming" page of Aztec.com:

The city of Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. They needed good farming practices to support their large population. The Aztecs devised irrigation systems, built terraces on nearby hillsides, and used fertilizers to increase useage of the soil.

Since they needed more farmland and there was none on the island, the Aztecs created farmland with a new agricultural technique that was called chinampas or floating gardens. These manmade islands were from large woven reed mats that were piled with rich earth from the bottom of the lake. The mud was rich in minerals and ideal for growing crops. Fast growing willow trees were planted so the root systems would grow to the bottom and anchor the islands. The islands were planted with crops that produced large amounts of food. They grew tomatoes, avocados, squash, chili peppers, flowers and corn which was their principal crop."

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What Is the Meaning of Arbiculture?

Arbiculture refers to the cultivation and management of trees and shrubs, typically in urban or ornamental settings. It involves practices such as planting, pruning, and tree care to ensure the health and growth of woody plants.


Did Aztecs farm?

Yes. The Aztecs farmed. They used chinampa's to plant crops. Chinampa's were large rectangles of land, that helped the Aztecs plant corn, avocados, trees, tomatoes, squash, cacti, and many other plants. These chinampa's were created by piling layers of mud and plants on the lakes bottom.This was a very difficult process.


Why did stone age people practice slash and burn agriculture?

Stone Age people practiced slash and burn agriculture to clear land for planting crops. By cutting down and burning trees and vegetation, they created fertile soil for planting and provided nutrients for their crops. This method allowed them to cultivate land for a few seasons before moving on to new areas.


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We have modified the land with tools bymaking or planting trees and planting plants


What did Aztecs farm?

Chinampas were floating gardens built on swamps. The process of making chinampas was a relatively simple one. First, canals were built through the marshes and swamps. Then, the mud from the canals was placed on mats, which were made from weeds and straw. Then, trees were planted at the corners. When these trees took root, they secured the chinampa firmly in place. Once the floating island was secure and useable, the Aztecs used it to plant their principal crop: corn. They also grew various vegetables such as avocados, beans, chili peppers, squash, and tomatoes and sometimes flowers.

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