Which cultural hearth is associated with maize?

• A. Mesoamerica
• B. Nile Valley
• C. Indus Valley
• D. Huang He

Answer: (A)

Maize originated in Mesoamerica, a cultural hearth where ancient farmers domesticated teosinte into corn thousands of years ago. This makes Mesoamerica the best answer because maize is native to the Americas and became a staple crop there long before it spread elsewhere. The Nile Valley is associated with early crops like wheat and barley; the Indus Valley with crops such as wheat and barley and other domesticated plants; and the Huang He region with millet and rice. Maize diffusion into other regions occurred later, especially after contact with Europeans.