Final answer:
The Aztecs managed seasonal flooding by constructing chinampas, raised planting beds in Lake Texcoco, and a di ke to separate fresh and brackish water, thereby controlling water quality and soil fertility, enabling them to sustain large urban populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Aztecs addressed the challenge of seasonal flooding and its impact on agriculture in a sophisticated manner. They created chinampas, innovative floating gardens, to maximize agricultural production and prevent flood damage. Additionally, they constructed a di ke to separate fresh and brackish water, thus preserving the quality of the water around Tenochtitlán. Furthermore, to ensure constant irrigation and fertile soil, the Aztecs drained swampy lands and built extensive irrigation systems, which helped sustain large populations and supported the city’s needs. Chinampas were rectangular plots made out of layers of mud and vegetation, enabling successful cultivation in shallow lake parts. The result was a significant agricultural surplus which fed the urban population and demonstrated the Aztecs’ remarkable ability to control and manipulate their environment.
Comparatively, in other ancient civilizations such as those along the Nile and between the Tigris and Euphrates, similar issues were handled by leveraging riverine flooding to enrich soils. The Aztecs applied similar ingenuity to their lake surroundings, creating one of the most iconic and enduring aspects of their architectural and agricultural legacy.