What was the main dietary staple of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas?

The main dietary staple of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas was indeed corn, also known as maize, which was a crucial crop for these civilizations. Corn was integral to their agriculture and culture, serving not only as a food source but also as a part of their religious rituals and economic systems.

For the Aztecs and Maya, corn was essential in various forms, including tortillas and tamales, and it played a central role in their diets. The cultivation of corn allowed for the development of complex societies, as it provided the necessary calories and nutrients to sustain large populations.

While potatoes were a significant staple for the Incas, who cultivated a variety of potato species in the highlands of South America, they were not as central to the Aztec or Maya diets. The other options, such as rice, beans, wheat, oats, fish, and fruits, do not reflect the primary agrarian practices of these Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations. Rice is not native to the Americas, and wheat and oats were introduced later by European colonizers. Fish and fruits would supplement the diets, but corn remained the primary staple across these cultures.