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Maize

Definition

Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. It became one of the most important staple crops in the Americas and eventually spread throughout the world.

Analogy

Think of maize like the smartphone of agriculture. Just as smartphones revolutionized communication and have become essential tools worldwide, maize revolutionized food production and became a vital crop globally.

Related terms

Agricultural Revolution: The transformation of human societies from hunting and gathering to farming. This transition occurred worldwide between 10,000 BC and 2000 BC, with the earliest known developments taking place in the Middle East.

Cereal Grains: Seeds that come from grasses such as wheat, millet, rice, barley, oats, rye, triticale, sorghum and maize (corn). These grains are staple foods for humans due to their high energy content.

Domestication: The process whereby humans select plants or animals for specific characteristics and gradually change them through controlled breeding.