Question

The development of population density and overall cultural elaboration in thesouthwestern United States occurred as a result of:

a. the distribution of Post-Uto-Aztecan language speakers.
b. the diffusion of maize agriculture migrating northward from Mexico the development of an intensive system of agriculture based on local plant crops and irrigation
c. the introduction of intensive agriculture from the eastern Woodlands
d. the development of complex trade networks throughout the region Frect

Answer 1

The southwestern United States saw increased population density and cultural development due to the northward diffusion of maize agriculture from Mexico and the establishment of complex trade networks. The correct answer is option: b. the diffusion of maize agriculture migrating northward from Mexico the development of an intensive system of agriculture based on local plant crops and irrigation

Step-by-step explanation:

The development of population density and overall cultural elaboration in the southwestern United States was primarily a result of the diffusion of maize agriculture migrating northward from Mexico. As early as the third millennium BCE, maize began to supplement hunter-gatherer diets, leading to the establishment of permanent settlements by around 500 BCE.

This period of transformation saw the rise of the Anasazi or Ancient Pueblo societies, who built complex towns thanks to maize's nutritional and agricultural benefits, especially when coupled with beans which together formed a complementary dietary staple and improved soil fertility. The presence of complex trade networks throughout the region also played a significant role in the cultural developments of the Southwest.