The Aztecs did not invent chinampa technology. The earliest chinampas in the Basin of Mexico date to the Middle Postclassic periods, about 1250 CE, more than 150 years before the formation of the Aztec empire in 1431.

When did the Aztecs build chinampas?

Although they appear to rest on the surface of the water, earning them the nickname "floating gardens," chinampas were actually built up from the bottom of the lake. There are several advantages to this system of farming, which began c. 800 CE, most obvious of which is the economical use of space.

Who created chinampas?

Chinampas were invented by the Aztec civilization. Sometimes referred to as "floating gardens," chinampas are artificial islands that were created by interweaving reeds with stakes beneath the lake's surface, creating underwater fences.