right|thumb|175px|Varieties of [[maize]]

Agriculture in Mesoamerica dates to the Archaic period of Mesoamerican chronology (8000–2000 BC). At the beginning of the Archaic period, the Early Hunters of the late Pleistocene era (50,000–10,000 BC) led nomadic lifestyles, relying on hunting and gathering for sustenance. However, the nomadic lifestyle that dominated the late Pleistocene and the early Archaic slowly transitioned into a more sedentary lifestyle as the hunter-gatherer micro-bands in the region began to cultivate wild plants. The cultivation of these plants provided security to the Mesoamericans, allowing them to increase surplus of "starvation foods" near seasonal camps; this surplus could be utilized when hunting was bad, during times of drought, and when resources were low. The cultivation of plants could have been started purposefully, or by accident. The former could have been done by bringing a wild plant closer to a camp site, or to a frequented area, so it was easier to access and collect. The latter could have happened as certain plant seeds were eaten and not fully digested, causing these plants to grow wherever human habitation would take them.

As the Archaic period progressed, cultivation of plant foods became increasingly important to the people of Mesoamerica. The reliability of cultivated plants allowed hunting and gathering micro-bands to establish permanent settlements and to increase in size. These larger settlements required a greater quantity of food, consequently leading to an even greater reliance on domesticated crops. Eventually, the Mesoamerican people established a sedentary lifestyle based on plant domestication and cultivation, supplemented with small game hunting. This sedentary lifestyle reliant on agriculture allowed permanent settlements to grow into villages and provided the opportunity for division of labor and social stratification.

The most important plant in ancient Mesoamerica, was, unarguably, maize. Squash and beans were also important staples of the ancient Mesoamerican agricultural diet and along with maize, are often referred to as the "Three Sisters".

Early and culturally significant domestic plants <span class="anchor" id="Early and Culturally Significant Domesticated Plants"></span>

thumb|Cacao

Another important crop in Mesoamerican agriculture is squash. Bruce D. Smith discovered evidence of domesticated squash (Cucurbita pepo), in Guilá Naquitz cave in Oaxaca.

  1. Cotton* – a shrub that is used mainly to create textiles
  2. Epazote* (Dysphania ambrosioides) – aromatic herb<!-- Originally this entry was for yerba buena, but that term is ambiguous, usually referring to plants related to mint. I've replaced it with a plant known to be cultivated by the Mesoamericans. -->
  3. Guayaba* – guava fruit
  4. Huautli* (Amaranthus cruentus, Amaranthus hypochondriacus) – grain
  5. Jícama* (Pachyrhizus erosus)
  6. Maize* – domesticated from teosinte grasses in southern Mexico)
  7. Mamey sapote* (Pouteria sapota) – fruit, other parts of plants have noted uses
  8. Mora (Rubus blackberry)
  9. Nopales* – stem segments of Opuntia species, such as Opuntia ficus-indica
  10. Papaya* (Carica papaya)
  11. Pineapple – cultivated extensively
  12. Pinto bean – "painted/speckled" bean; nitrogen-fixer traditionally planted in conjunction with the "two sisters", maize and squash, to help condition soil; runners grew on maize
  13. Squash* (Cucurbita spp.) – pumpkins, zucchini, acorn squash, others
  14. Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) – various cultivars
  15. Sunflower seeds – under cultivation in Mexico and Peru for thousands of years, also source of essential oils
  16. Tobacco* – a dried leaf used as a trade commodity and peace-making
  17. Tomato* – red berry-type fruit of the family Solanaceae
  18. Tunas* – fruits of Opuntia species, also called a "prickly pear"
  19. Vanilla – orchids grown for their culinary flavor

<big>*</big> An asterisk indicates a common English or Spanish word derived from an indigenous word.

Farming techniques <span class="anchor" id="Farming Techniques"></span>

thumb|175px|left|Aztec maize agriculture as depicted in the [[Florentine Codex]]

One of the greatest challenges in Mesoamerica for farmers is the lack of usable land, and the poor condition of the soil. The two main ways to combat poor soil quality, or lack of nutrients in the soil, are to leave fields fallow for a period of time in a milpa cycle, and to use slash-and-burn techniques. The system takes its name from the low wall of stones (pet meaning circular and kot wall of loose stones) that characteristically surrounds the forest garden plot. The earliest dated maize cobs was discovered in Guilá Naquitz cave in Oaxaca and dates back to 4300 BC. Maize arose through domestication of teosinte, which is considered to be the ancestor of maize. The domestication of teosinte was one of the most essential advancements in the history of human life in Central America and Mexico. Maize can be stored for lengthy periods of time, it can be ground into flour, and it easily provides surplus for future use. Maize was vital to the survival of the Mesoamerican people. Its cultural significance is reflected in Mesoamerican origin myths, artwork, and rituals.

The Mesoamerican natives also used irrigation techniques not unlike other early agricultural societies in early Mesopotamia. However, unlike the arid plains of the Fertile Crescent, the Mesoamerican area has a rougher terrain, therefore making irrigation less effective than terraced farming and slash-and-burn techniques.