Aztec Corn

Corn, or maize, is native to the Americas. It was was domesticated several thousand years ago and become a staple crop in pre-conquest mesoamerica. It was so central to the mesoamerican diet that it is thought to have made up about 80% of the calories consumed. The importance of maize is further exemplified by its role in mesoamerican cosmovision. The Maya and other mesoamerican cultures believed that humans were made by the gods out of corn. Additionally, Florentine Codex asserts that Chicomecoatl, the Aztec maize goddess, is the “flesh and life of humans.” Finally, the Aztecs based their sense of time in part on the agricultural cycles of maize. The yearly cycle of growing maize structured the festival calendar and ceremonies dedicated to maize gods, as well as water and earth gods, marked the passage of time on the Aztec calendar.

Water

For instance, “[a]ccording to Aztec cosmology, all material existence was surrounded by water”. Furthermore, the Aztec term for city is altepetl, which translates to “mountain filled with water”, indicating that water was closely linked with centers of power and culture. Mountains, which themselves held great spiritual significance, were also associated with water. Mountains were thought to house gods, such as the water god Tlaloc. Together, water and mountains formed an axis mundi for Aztec cosmovision.

Milk (Cow)

Cows are not native to the Americas. In fact, no large animals were domesticated for their milk in pre-conquest Central America, although indigenous people did domesticate turkeys and dogs for their meat. Cattle were introduced to Central America in the late 1530s by the Spanish. Raising cattle went on to become an important industry in Mexico and of great significance for the Spanish empire in the Americas.