Ancient Maya Political Economies

by Masson, Marilyn A.; Freidel, David A.; RATHJE, WILLIAM L.; REESE-TAYLOR, KATHRYN; MORA MARIN, AND DAVID; AND DEBRA S. WALKER, KATHRYN REESE-TAYLOR; McAnany, Patricia A.; THOMAS, BEN S.; MORANDI, STEVEN; PETERSON, POLLY A.; HARRISON, AND ELEANOR; WEST, GEO

• ISBN13: 9780759100817
• ISBN10: 0759100810
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-31
• Publisher: AltaMira Press

Summary

Ancient Maya Political Economies examines variation in systems of economic production and exchange and how these systems supported the power networks that integrated Maya society. Chapters in this book take a hard look at existing models of elite exchange and tribute and address the difficult question of how the flow of utilitarian goods supported Maya kingdoms and their ruling classes. Using models originally developed by William L. Rathje, the authors explore core-periphery relations, the use of household analysis to reconstruct political economy, and evidence for market development. In doing so, they challenge the conventional wisdom of decentralized Maya political authority and replace it with a more complex view of the political economic foundations of Maya civilization.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
The Nouveau Elite Potlatch: One Scenario for the Monumental Rise of Early Civilizations	p. 31
The Origins of Maya Civilization: The Old Shell Game, Commodity, Treasure, and Kingship	p. 41
The Passage of the Late Preclassic into the Early Classic	p. 87
Praise the Ajaw and Pass the Kakaw: Xibun Maya and the Political Economy of Cacao	p. 123
Ceramic Exchange in the Late Classic and Postclassic Maya Lowlands: A Diachronic Approach	p. 140
Dynamics of Regional Integration in Northwestern Belize	p. 197
At the Crossroads: The Economic Basis of Political Power in the Petexbatun Region	p. 223
Modes of Exchange and Regional Patterns: Chunchucmil, Yucatan	p. 249
Praise the Gods and Pass the Obsidian?: The Organization of Ancient Economy in San Martin Jilotepeque, Guatemala	p. 285
New Perspectives on the Prehispanic Maya Salt Trade	p. 307
Community Economy and the Mercantile Transformation in Postclassic Northeastern Belize	p. 335
In Praise of Garbage: Historical Archaeology, Households, and the Maya Political Economy	p. 365
Perspectives on Economy and Theory	p. 398
Index	p. 419
About the Authors	p. 433
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