OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What are the agricultural achievements of the Maya?

2. What reasons led to the development or advancement of the Maya society?

3. Discuss the advanced social and political systems of the Maya.

• The Maya developed their civilization in the Yucatan peninsula in Central America.

• They were one of the most civilized people in the Americas in the pre- Columbian era and
were able to build splendid temples and pyramids.

• They were known for a sophisticated and highly developed writing system, art, architecture,
mathematics, calendar and astronomical system.

• Essentially, they were a farming people and after constantly clearing the dense rain forest,
over time, their entire civilization came to include much of Central America and southern
Mexico.

THE ADVANCED AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE MAYA

• The Maya, by far, were one of the most successful set of agricultural people in the Americas
up to 1500s. These people were able to grow fields of maize, peppers, cotton, and ground
crops and this was done not only to feed their growing population, but to enhance their
economy.
• Agriculture in the Maya society was not an isolated entity and it was linked to their political,
social, economic and even religious wellbeing (Foster, 2005). Of importance was that the
Maya people were able to develop agricultural despite the many problems they had: Indeed,
the land was often waterlogged, arid in nature, hilly and in some instances the quality of soil
in low areas were different from that in highland areas.

⚫ Even so, forest lands when clear were often infertile and as Foster (2005) mentions, seasonal
flooding was a major problem. As agriculture was of vital importance, the role of the peasant
could not be understated and as Claypole and Robottom (2001) mention, "the whole success of
the Maya civilization depended on the peasant's crops."

• Campbell and Cateau (2005) mention, "The Maya were an agricultural people who
depended, to a large extent, on the productivity of their fields in order to expand their
culture. As Mayan society increased in size so too did the need to bring more and more land
under agricultural production."

1. The practice of surplus farming: Farming was an economic activity and there was need
to plant in excess to facilitate trade. Land was therefore constantly cleared, and each
city-state was able to cultivate cash crops that were able to not only feed the population,
but expand trading ventures.

2. The Slash and Burn technique (Mila or swidden agriculture): Almost all of the indigenous
Americans had employed the slash and burn technique. This technique involved forest
areas being clear (sometimes for domestic purposes). The fell tresses were then burnt,
and crops planted in the ashes among the blackened tree stumps, over a period of
months or years. By clearing the forest and burning the cut and unwanted trees, they
were able to further ensure the lushness of the newly cleared lands, and thus more
productivity from their peasants (Hammond, 1987).

3. The use of simple effective tools: Foster (2005) mentions that Maya farming technology
required backbreaking labour and patience. There were no steel axes for felling trees, no
 oxen to plow the fields. Studies have shown, however, that they did have copper axes
and simple stone tools.
Although they were effective, the clearing of forest was an unusually time-consuming
process.

• Irrigation: Most of the lands cleared by the Mayas were arid in nature. This meant that they
were extremely dry. Water had to be constantly fished to the area in order to nurture the
crop that was planted. As such, irrigation ditches were created to funnel water from rivers,
or artificial created reservoirs to ensure that these areas are constantly fertile.

• Fertilization: The Mayas normally farm on lands that lack fertility, this is because it was
either swampy, arid or it is waterlogged. As such, fertilization played an imperative role in
their agricultural advancement. Fertilizers were created from natural ingredients found in
the environment, from the remains of animals and other domestic items.

Field Raising: Foster (2005) mentions that there was always the need to drained and raised
fields. Hammond (1987) notes that periodic flooding was always an issue and therefore farming
plots had to be raised. Farmers would cut ditches and pile up the dirt so as to seemingly clear a
raised field.

Crop rotation: The Maya had to learn to replant crops in different areas when the land became
infertile and yields became low.

• The creation of inland fishing ponds: The Mayans engage in massive fishing ventures,
though most of their civilization was inland. They had created ideal canoes that could have
travel the sea and capture fish of all variety. Over time, they had blocked inland rivers thus
creating artificial ponds, which hosted numerous fish for the people in the empire.

• The capturing and maintenance of forest deers: The Maya kept some form of animals, but
not to the extent of the Incas. Forest deers were plentiful in Central America. As the Mayans
cleared more and more lands, these creatures were captured. They were fed and raised by
their owners until ready to be cooked. This provided a ready source of protein to their diet.
• Terrace: The development of Terraces in hilly areas to prevent soil erosions and to make
lands fertile.

REASONS WHY THE MAYANS WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP INTO AN ADVANCED SOCIETY

• The Maya were a communal set of people and so the fact that they had the determination
to work together was one of the main reasons for their development as an advanced society.
The Maya worked for a common cause, which was to see the overall development of their
society.

• The increase in their population fostered a constant flow of workers that could benefit the
society. The common people under supervision enjoyed effective division of labour, which
meant more progressive activities.

• In the Mayan society, just like all other indigenous societies, religion played an essential role.
Religion was a strong mechanism used to instill obedience in the people within the society.
They will work hard to please their gods, as they were highly polytheistic in nature.

The Maya were highly militaristic in nature and so war was extremely important. War was
employed at all times to capture other indigenous groups or to displace others in order to
extend their borders. The people who were conquered were also transformed into slaves and
were made apart of the work force.

Another key factor to the success of their civilizations was the availability of land and its
common resources (e.g. trees). They were not restricted by the hills and mountains. They were
thus able to use the natural terrains and expanded their empire.

• The Maya normally farmed for personal purposes and so agriculture had always been
among them, thus shaping them as a highly agricultural group of people. As their population
had increased, they quickly developed techniques to extend such agricultural systems thus
establishing surplus farming.
• The existence of a strong political system was crucial to their accomplishment as an
advanced society. The population respected the orders of their leader (the Halach Unich),
nobles and chiefs and so they were equipped to follow plans in advancing their society.
Specific sanctions were enforced in the citystates under each leader.

The fact that they were great, artistic builders is manifested by the structures they had left
behind.

EVIDENCE OF ESTABLISHED SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS IN THE MAYA SOCIETY

Social System:
• The Mayans had an organized society based on prestige and status. Just like European
states in the 1400s, people were treated according to their status. Among their advanced
organized society, were agricultural workers, artisans, soldiers, priests and nobles. Nobles
and priests held high position in their society. Each group had their own social treatment,
standard of living and privileges.

• They had advanced agricultural systems. They created large farmlands using irrigation,
artificial fishing ponds, slash and burn, draining of swampy lands, terraces and reservoirs.
Many of these practices are still being used today and so it is important to note such
advanced systems.

• Grand architecture was evident. Skilled craftsmen were able to design and maintain
sculptures, monuments (staele), buildings of stones, and temples. Paintings were done in the
three (3) dimensions. They created bridges, roads, and markets which helped greatly with
communication and economic development etc.

• Constantly expanding the borders of their empire similar to the imperialistic nature of
the Europeans. In Europe, the amount of land a country has determined their strength and
power. Like that, the Maya led a campaign of war among the other indigenous groups. Their
lands would have been incorporated into theirs and most of the captives will. become their
slaves.
• Effective Law enforcement showed that the Mayans were an advanced group socially. They
had laws which governed their city-states so as to protect the commoners who formed the
basis of their society and work-force.

Political System:

• The organization of their city-sates suggested the advancement of their political system. The
Mayan society was divided in numerous city-states. Each city-state had a great degree of
political independence and yet still they were still integrated. This is common to the United
States of America.

• They had a policy of inherited leaders, and so the kings and nobles can only be given
position based on their kinship to the previous leaders. Each leader was also assigned a
council of men which acted as advisors and lesser leaders. This is common to present day
cabinets, where the Prime Minister may have members of parliament concerning different
portfolio.

• There was constant recruiting of warriors to protect their empire. These men would be
recruited from as early as they hit puberty and they were trained in combat by war chiefs
and leaders called batabobs. This was to ensure military supremacy and national security.
These groups of men would form large military forces to expand their Empire through wars.

• The use of political and militaristic power to enforce laws and rules suggested how their
society functioned, e.g., the role of polices and soldiers.