The Mayas Agriculture and Trade of an Ancient

The Mayas Agriculture and Trade of an Ancient Civilization Grade 5

Mayan Agriculture p The earliest Mayas were hunters and gathers. They fished and hunted for food, including birds, rabbits, monkeys, and deer. They gathered wild fruits, nuts, and vegetables. p Hunting and gathering, however, could not provide enough for the ever increasing Mayan population, so they had to plant crops to survive.

Mayan Agriculture p The Mayas used a variety of methods to grow food. p The method they used depended on their location, since methods used in the forest did not work in the swamps.

Forest Method - Slash and Burn p Men cut forests down with stone axes and then let the trees dry thoroughly. They then burned the dried trees to clear the land. The ashes provided fertilizer for the soil. p This method wore out the soil quickly. The fields had to be at rest for 2 to 3 years before replanting. p These fields had field crops, as well as fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.

Growing Crops in Swampy Areas p The Mayas developed a special way of growing crops in swampy areas. p Workers dug up mounds of soil. They then planted and harvested the crops on the mound areas. The ditches they dug out provided canals around the mounds for irrigation.

Growing Crops in Mountain Areas p The Mayas developed a special way of growing crops in mountainous areas. p Workers dug up “terraces” in the mountains sides to provide more flat land for planting and irrigation.

Terrace Farming in Mountain Areas

Growing Crops p The Mayas planted seeds, mainly maize (corn) using a planting stick

Problems with Growing Crops Water for the crops was always a concern. p Droughts often destroyed the crops. p The Mayas built water reservoirs using man-made dams and also created irrigation systems to help bring water to the crops. p

Crops p p p The Mayas raised a variety of crops p Maize p Beans p Chilis p Peppers p Squash p Potatoes p Avocados p Pumpkin They also grew cacao plants that produced a bean that made chocolate. In addition to food crops, farmers also grew hemp to make rope and cotton for cloth.

Religion and Agriculture p Religion played an important part in Mayan farming. p The priests chose the special days for planting and harvesting. p The Mayans had special celebrations and rituals in honor of Chac, the god of rain. They believe that he would send the much needed rain if the celebrations pleased him.

Mayan Trade The Mayas became great traders. These merchants were respected and important members of the society. p Trade routes developed throughout the Mayan lands. Goods were carried along these routes by human caravans, with slaves doing most of the carrying. p Goods were also moved along water ways canoes

Mayan Trade p The Mayas used the barter system to “buy” their goods. n Bartering is the exchange of certain goods for others p Cacao beans were a very valuable form of currency. p The Mayas also traded fruits, vegetables, salt, honey, dried fish, deer meat, and birds. Non-food goods could include: cotton cloth, feathers, shells , gold, emeralds, jade, and other valuable stones.

Mayan Summary p The Mayan were an ancient group of people who lived in the rugged highlands and dense swamps of the Yucatan Peninsula. p The Mayas used a variety of methods to obtain food. The method they used depended on their location. Slash and burn was used in forest areas, and mounding was done in the swamps, and terracing in the mountains. p Maize and the cacao bean were important crops. p The Mayas were great traders, using the barter