Maya Economics - Jessica Cansler

An important part of Maya economics can be traced back to their ability to participate in long distance trade among other Mesoamerican cultures such as the Teotihuacan and Zapotecs, and other groups located along the gulf coast of Mexico, the Carribean Islands and in Columbia. Along with the development of the trade routes, one can also see the emergence of a middle class among the Mayas during the Classic Period, which is believed to have been brought upon by the intermediate occupations, such as skilled artisans and craftsman who helped with traded goods. Some of the most important goods that were traded included, salt, obsidian, jade, cacao, cotton, vanilla and Quetzal feathers.

            Another important part of Maya economics was their agriculture. For Mayas, agriculture was not only for their own food purposes, but for trade as well. The area that the Mayas inhabited consisted mostly of rainforest. As there is rapid growth in the rainforest, the nutrients in the soil are quickly depleted, making it unsuitable for growing crops. To compensate for this inadequacy of the land, the Mayas used a slash and burn method of agriculture that entails burning the plants and trees in order to later use them for fertilizer and land cultivation. This process is very time consuming as it was estimated to take up to seven years for proper cultivation, and the land was usually only good for two to four years. This process also takes up notable space, which means it took quite a bit of land to be able to support a Maya family. It is estimated that it could take up to seventy acres to support a family of five.

            Mayas’ economic way of life is suspected to have fallen due mostly to warfare among other cultures. One recorded account is with the Olmec whom the Mayas defeated. Another belief holds that the fall of the Mayas may have been due to a combination of drought and disease with raging fevers. It is estimated that about 80-90 percent of the population may have been decimated through disease alone.

                                                                        

     

http://www.authenticmaya.com/maya_trade_and_economy.htm

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/MAYAS.HTM

Hooker, Richard. The Mayas. 1996.

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