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The Maya found that these three plants, when grown together, would help each other develop. Tall and viny, beans climbed up the maize stalks. The squash, in turn, helped to reduce soil erosion.
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Captivating History (Ancient Civilizations: A Captivating Guide to Mayan History, the Aztecs, and Inca Empire (Exploring Ancient History))
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Because terraces soak up more sunlight than steep slopes, maize can be grown at higher than usual altitudes on them; irrigation similarly increases the area available for maize farming.
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Charles C. Mann (1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus)