The volcanic highlands, however, were the source of obsidian, jade, and other precious metals like cinnabar and hematite that the Mayans used to develop a lively trade. Although the lowlands were not the source of any of these commodities, they still played an important role as the origin of the transportation routes.
What did the Mayans trade for?
The ancient Maya never used coins as money. Instead, like many early civilizations, they were thought to mostly barter, trading items such as tobacco, maize, and clothing.
What products were exported for trade in the Mayan highland cities?
The goods, which were moved and traded around the empire at long distance, include: salt, cotton mantels, slaves, quetzal feathers, flint, chert, obsidian, jade, colored shells, Honey, cacao, copper tools, and ornaments. Due to the lack of wheeled cars and use of animals, these goods traveled Maya area by the sea.
What did the Mayans trade the most?
The most popular trade items were salt, cotton, spices, feathers, and cacao. Archaeologist have discovered obsidian at Mayan excavations that has come from as far away as central Mexico, almost 900 miles away.
Did the Mayans live in the Highlands?
The people of the Maya civilization lived in three different areas: the southern Maya highlands, the central lowlands, and the northern lowlands. They had many different types of land, including mountains and dry plains.
Who did the Mayan people trade with?
Merchants traded cacao beans throughout Mesoamerica not only in the Maya lands but also to the Olmec, Zapotec, Aztecs and elsewhere. Merchants also traded in raw materials including jade, copper, gold, granite, marble, limestone and wood.
What did the Mayans farm and trade?
With increased trade came wealth and the growth of cities into large urban-states, like those of the Classic Maya civilization. Although their principal crop was corn, farmers also cultivated beans, squash, and fruit trees. Black beans and red beans contributed protein to the Maya diet.
What Stone did the Mayans trade?
Obsidian is an igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling and hardening of the volcanic lava. The volcanic glass stone was used in trading by Mayan merchants, dating as far back as 100 years BC.
What valuable stone did the Mayans trade?
Obsidian Trade
The Obsidian Trade
Obsidian was a precious commodity to the Maya, who used it for adornments, weapons, and rituals. Of all of the trade items favored by the ancient Maya, obsidian is the most promising for reconstructing their trade routes and habits.
How did the Mayans transport trade items?
The Mayans had no beasts of burden or wheels to carry their heavy loads. Instead, trade goods were transported on the backs of slaves who traveled along well established routes. However, most merchants found it much easier to use a canoe.
Did Mayans trade with other civilizations?
The Mayans primarily traded within their own empire, though they did have some external trade. When trading outside of their empire, the Mayans typically traded with other natives within Central America, but are recorded going as far north as Teotihuacan in the Aztec Empire as as far south as Colombia.
What were the 3 main crops of the Mayans?
A combination of all plants helped maize, cacao, and tobacco become central to rituals involving harvest, death, sickness, even pregnancy. It’s interesting to learn how these crops are used and appreciated by the Maya, especially when we take them for granted as merely a food source.
Did the Mayans and Aztecs trade?
Answer and Explanation: The Aztecs traded with a number of other peoples throughout Mesoamerica. They traded with the Mayans who were concentrated to the east on the Yucatán peninsula, communities all along the coasts of modern Mexico, and the Cuzcatlan people who were located in what is now El Salvador.
Which Maya city was in the highlands?
In the highlands of the Yucatan, a few Maya cities, such as Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Mayapán, continued to flourish in the Post-Classic Period (A.D. 900-1500).
Where is the Mayan highlands?
Mayan Highlands are located mostly in the territory of Guatemala and Chiapas, as part of the mountain systems of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and Sierra Madre, which rise to 3,800 meters above sea level.
When did the Maya civilization begin in the highlands of Middle America?
From Belize to Gran Colombia, step back in time and journey through the empires and countries of Latin America. The rise of the Maya began about 250 ce, and what is known to archaeologists as the Classic Period of Mayan culture lasted until about 900 ce.
Did the Mayans trade slaves?
There was an active slave trade in the Maya region, and commoners and elites were both permitted to own slaves. Individuals were enslaved as a form of punishment for certain crimes and for failing to pay back their debts.
Are there any Mayans left?
The Maya today number about six million people, making them the largest single block of indigenous peoples north of Peru. Some of the largest Maya groups are found in Mexico, the most important of these being the Yucatecs (300,000), the Tzotzil (120,000) and the Tzeltal (80,000).
How did the Mayans treat slaves?
In general, slaves were not treated badly. Sometimes they actually had easier lives than peasants, depending on what job they did and where their masters lived. But slaves were not free to come and go as they pleased. Often they were sacrificed when their masters died.
Did the Mayans have trade routes?
Evidence from sites along the coast also suggests that both coastal goods and goods from the interior were traded along coastal routes as well. Researchers at coastal sites have recovered evidence that trade along the coast occurred throughout the time of the ancient Maya.
Did the Maya eat meat?
Eating meat was a treat for the Maya who relied more on their farming for food. Any Maya lucky to live on the coast would regularly eat fish along with their daily diet of maize and other vegetables. As well as fish they would also hunt for turtles!