Final answer:
Maya agriculture was less efficient than other complex societies like the Egyptians due to limited technological advancements, inadequate knowledge of soil fertility and crop rotation, the lack of a centralized government, and overreliance on a single crop and insufficient water management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Maya agriculture was less efficient compared to other complex societies like the Egyptians due to several reasons:
- Limited technological advancements in agriculture: The Maya did not have access to advanced tools and equipment that would have improved their farming methods and increased efficiency.
- Inadequate knowledge of soil fertility and crop rotation: The Maya did not have a deep understanding of soil quality and did not practice crop rotation, which could have improved yields and prevented soil depletion.
- The lack of a centralized government to coordinate agricultural practices: Unlike the Egyptians, the Maya did not have a strong centralized government that could efficiently organize and manage agricultural activities.
- Overreliance on a single crop and insufficient water management: The Maya heavily relied on corn as their staple crop and did not diversify their agricultural practices. Additionally, they did not effectively manage water resources, leading to inadequate irrigation and crop failure.