Final answer:
Important sources of food in the Andes before domestication included potatoes, maize, and cassava (manioc). These staples were developed due to the region's unique geography, and the absence of large domesticated animals influenced agricultural practices differently from other regions. Women played a critical role in breeding and developing these staple crops.
Step-by-step explanation:
An important source of food in the Andes before domestication was the potato, cultivated in the highlands, while maize and manioc (cassava) were significant in lower elevations. The rapid change in elevation in the Andes allowed for a variety of food crops to be grown. Additionally, maize, domesticated from teosinte between 5000 and 3000 BCE in Mesoamerica, eventually made its way to the Andes around 1600 BCE. This grain was used for making a fermented alcoholic drink and popcorn, but in contrast to Mesoamerica, it did not become a major dietary component in the Andes. The lack of large domesticatable animals in the Americas meant that transportation and agriculture developed differently, without beasts of burden to carry or pull heavy loads. Agriculture and food production in the Andes were largely managed by women, who selectively bred and developed different crops such as potatoes and cassava, which are now important staples worldwide. The significant staple crops of maize, potatoes, and cassava continue to feed billions globally, originating from the ancient innovations of native Americans.