Gastropod Feasting With Montezuma: Food and Farming in a Floating City
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Jun 10, 2025 Luis Zambrano, a biology professor, and David Corbayo, an anthropology expert, delve into the fascinating world of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. They discuss its ingenious agricultural practices like chinampas, which sustained a city on a lake without traditional livestock. Listeners will discover the unique diet of the Aztecs, featuring items like insect eggs and axolotls, and explore the cultural significance of these foods. The conversation also touches on modern implications for sustainable urban food systems and efforts to revive this extraordinary heritage.
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Fertile Basin Enabled Aztec City
- The basin of Mexico had fertile volcanic soil and abundant water from lakes but low annual rainfall.
- This environment made it possible for the Aztecs to support a huge city and empire through ingenious agricultural techniques.
Chinampas Boost Food Production
- Chinampas are man-made mud islands created in shallow lake areas for agriculture.
- They multiplied Aztec food production, allowing multiple crops per year without irrigation.
Milpa System's Crop Synergy
- The Aztecs practiced the milpa system, planting corn, beans, and squash together.
- These plants support each other biologically, increasing yields and reducing pests naturally.