The economic base of the Mayans was agriculture, mainly corn, practiced with the help of irrigation, using rudimentary and itinerant techniques, which contributed to the destruction of tropical forests in the regions where inhabited, they also developed cormecial activities whose merchant class enjoyed great privileges.
As a unit of exchange, they used cocoa beans and copper bells, a material they also used for ornamental work, alongside gold, silver, jade, sea shells and colored feathers. However, they were unaware of metal tools.
Agricultural and commercial activities
The Mayans cultivated corn (three species), cotton, tomatoes, cocoa, potatoes and fruits. They domesticated the turkey and the bee that served to enrich their diet, to which they also added hunting and fishing.
It is important to note that as natural resources are scarce and do not guarantee them the surplus they need, the tendency has been to develop agricultural techniques, such as terraces, for example, to overcome erosion. The swamps were drained to obtain adequate conditions for planting.
Alongside these technical advances, we observed that the cultivation of maize was linked to the use of fires. During the dry months, they cleared the land, leaving only the most leafy trees. Then they set fire to clean it leaving the field ready to be sown. With a stick they made holes where the seeds were placed.
Given the way in which the cultivation was carried out, production was maintained for only two or three consecutive years. With the correct wear of the soil, the farmer was forced to look for new land. Even today the burning technique, despite harming the soil, is used in several regions of the American continent.
The Lowlands concentrated a dense population in poorly fertile areas. With a small production for the population's needs, it was necessary not only to innovate in terms of agricultural techniques, but also to import products such as corn, for example, from other regions.
Trade was boosted with products such as jade, feathers, fabrics, ceramics, honey, cocoa and slaves, via roads or canoes.
Mayan Civilization
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