1. Mayans farmed in the forests and swamps Mayan Agriculture

2. Hunting and Gathering Many fished and hunted for food in the early days. Some animals included birds, rabbits, monkeys and deer. They also picked and gathered wild nuts, fruits and vegetables. The resources could not feed the growing population so they had to move inland to farm.

3. Slash and Burn Men would cut down trees in forests with stone axes and then let them dry. Next they burned the trees to clear the land and the ashes provided fertilizer for the soil. The Mayans planted seeds, mainly maize or corn, using a planting stick. They would place three to four seeds in a hole. The slash and burn method wore out the soil quickly and land had to rest for three to four years before they could plant again.

4. Crops Other than maize Mayans grew beans, chilies and other peppers, squashes, tomatoes, avocados, and pumpkins. In some regions they grew cacao plants but it was hard to grow and therefore became valuable for trade. Others had fruit orchards and grew hemp to make rope and cotton for cloth.

5. Irrigation Water for crops was always a concern as droughts often destroyed them. Mayans built reservoirs and created dams or irrigation systems. They would also build farming terraces to help stop the erosion.

6. Swampy Areas Workers dug up soil into mounds and would plant the crops in these with diches dug around the mound or canals to provide water.

7. Religion and Farming The priests chose special days for planting and harvesting. They had celebrations and rituals to honor Chac the god of rain. Mayans believed he would send the much needed rain if the celebrations pleased him.

8. Exit Ticket What types of farming did the Mayan use? Explain the slash and burn method and why it did not always work.