Investigate how the Maya and the Olmec showed continuity economically.
They both farmed corn.
They both had money systems.
They both traded limestone.
They both farmed cacao.
The Maya and the Olmec civilizations exhibited economic continuity in several ways.
1. Farming Corn: Both the Maya and the Olmec civilizations relied heavily on agriculture, and corn (maize) was their staple crop. The cultivation of corn played a crucial role in their economies as it served as their primary food source and was also used for trade and establishing social hierarchies. Both civilizations developed sophisticated agricultural techniques to grow, harvest, and store corn efficiently.
2. Money Systems: Both the Maya and the Olmec civilizations had developed their own monetary systems to facilitate trade and economic transactions. The Maya used a system based on the exchange of various commodities such as cacao beans, textiles, feathers, jade, and obsidian. These goods were used both as currency and in barter trade. Similarly, the Olmec civilization used a barter system, where objects like jade, basalt, pottery, and other valuable goods were exchanged as a form of currency.
3. Trading Limestone: The Maya and the Olmec civilizations had thriving trading networks, and limestone was a commonly traded material between them. The Olmec, known for their impressive stone sculptures and structures, sourced limestone from nearby quarries and traded it with the Maya. The Maya, in turn, used the limestone for their monumental architecture and construction, including the famous pyramids and temples.
4. Farming Cacao: Both the Maya and the Olmec civilizations cultivated cacao trees as an important economic crop. Cacao beans held significant cultural, religious, and economic value for both civilizations. The Maya prepared a highly-prized chocolate beverage from cacao beans and used it as a form of currency in their trade network. The Olmec, known to have influenced subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations like the Maya, also utilized cacao as an economic resource.
These shared economic practices and commodities demonstrate the continuity between the Maya and the Olmec civilizations. The use of corn as a staple crop, the existence of monetary systems, the trading of limestone, and the cultivation of cacao beans were all integral components of their economies, representing similarities and continuities across time and space within Mesoamerica.