Both the Maya and the Olmec showed continuity economically through various aspects of their civilizations:
1. Use of limestone: Both civilizations used limestone extensively in their architecture and construction. They constructed magnificent pyramids, temples, and other monumental structures using limestone as the primary building material. This indicates the economic importance of quarrying and trading limestone for construction purposes.
2. Farming cacao: Both the Maya and the Olmec cultivated cacao, which was a valuable and highly prized crop. Cacao beans were extensively used as a form of currency, and they were also consumed in the form of a chocolate beverage by the elites. The economic significance of cacao cultivation is evident in both cultures.
3. Farming corn: Corn, or maize, was the staple crop for both the Maya and the Olmec. It formed the basis of their agricultural economies, and its cultivation was crucial for their survival and prosperity. Both civilizations developed sophisticated agricultural techniques and systems to ensure a consistent production of corn, demonstrating the economic continuity in their dependence on this crop.
4. Money systems: Both civilizations developed complex monetary systems. The Olmec used a barter system, but they also used certain items as a form of currency, such as jade and obsidian mirrors. The Maya, on the other hand, had a more elaborate monetary system, using cacao beans, cotton textiles, and jade as mediums of exchange. The presence of such monetary systems reflects the economic development and continuity in trade and commerce within these civilizations.
In conclusion, the Maya and the Olmec shared economic continuities through their use of limestone for construction, cultivation of cacao and corn, and the establishment of monetary systems. These aspects signify the economic importance and interconnectivity within these ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.
Investigate how the Maya and the Olmec showed continuity economically.
They both limestone
They both farmed cacao.
They both farmed corn.
They both had money systems.
1 answer