One example of how a group of Mesoamericans adapted to their environment is the Maya civilization, which flourished in the dense rainforests of present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. To adapt to their environment, the Maya engaged in shifting agriculture (also known as slash-and-burn agriculture). They cleared small patches of land for farming by cutting down and burning forested areas, which enriched the soil with nutrients. After a few years of cultivation, they would allow these plots to lie fallow and move to a new area, thus managing the challenges posed by poor, acidic soils and maintaining agricultural productivity.
In contrast, an example of how a group of Mesoamericans changed their environment to fit their needs is the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs constructed chinampas, or floating gardens, on the shallow lake beds of the Valley of Mexico. This innovative agricultural technique involved creating small, rectangular patches of fertile arable land on the lake surface, built from mud and vegetation. By using chinampas, the Aztecs increased their agricultural output significantly, allowing them to support a large urban population in their capital, Tenochtitlán, and effectively turning a challenging wetland environment into a productive farming landscape.