How did the geography affect the farming, agriculture, hunting, and trade practices of the civilization?
The Mayan geography played a huge roll in farming, agriculture, hunting, and trade transactions. It played a huge toll by rivers, rain forests, and volcanoes. The rivers served as passage ways for canoes to travel from one city to another. It provided water for human consumption and trade routes. Also, the Mayans used rivers as a trap for animals to be hunted right on the sport. The rain forest was like a greenhouse, it provided warmth, sunlight, water, and produced an enormous variety of plants. The volcanic eruptions in volcanoes provided rich soil. The best soils were found in the southern highland valleys. Let's not forget that the Mayan geographical layout is located on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Describe the trade that occurred within Mayan Civilization. How did trade affect their culture? Describe the similarities and differences with the cultures that we have studied this far.
The Mayans had a very advanced trading system. Their resources were well known throughout the city-states they have traded with. Prestige items such as; Jade, gold, copper, fancy pottery, and ritual items were one of the commercialized tradings. The second one, were subsistence items. They consisted of basic agriculture such as; Corn, beans and squash. Trading affected their culture by expanding and bringing different varieties of ethnic groups, into the Mayan Civilization. It also affected their agriculture with slash-and-burn. I believe that the Mayan trading is some what similar to what the Africans have traded, like copper and gold. It's different than any other cultures, because they traded by canoes down rives. So instead of walking, riding, silent-bartering, and etc. The Mayans used rivers as trade routes with their canoes.
What were the common ways that the Mayan Civilization managed the behavior of its people? Was there a capital within or were they governed differently?
Common ways that the Mayan Civilization managed the behavior of its people, were by extreme makeovers. The Mayans went all out on trying to be physically perfect. Maybe men wanted to look like K'inich Janaab' Pakal also known as Pakal the Great. For women, it was Maize God. The Mayans were governed by a hierarchy. On top of everyone were the kings, priests, and nobles. In the middle class were the officers, officials, merchants, bureaucrats and etc. Lastly, at the bottom were the slaves and workers.
- Canadian Museum of History, n.d. Web.
- Minster, Christopher. "Ancient Maya Economy and Trade." About.com Latin American History. Http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/bio/Christopher-Minster-37117.htm, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
- Extreme Makeover. By: Miller, Mary, Archaeology, 00038113, Jan/Feb2009, Vol. 62, Issue 1