How did the ancient Maya farm?

• Farming was really important to the Maya.

• Most people grew their own crops in small fields.

• Farmers grew many kinds of crops at the same time, such as maize, beans and squash.

• If farmers grew more than they could eat, they traded the leftovers in markets.

• Food such as chillies and tomatoes were gathered from the forest or grown in gardens.

• The Maya made a lot of cotton, which was spun, dyed and woven into textiles.

• Cotton seeds were ground to make cooking oil.

• Cocoa and vanilla were also produced.

• Cocoa was made into chocolate drinks for the royal family.

• Archaeologists have found the remains of a Maya market at Chunchucmil, in modern day Mexico.

• The Maya were so successful at farming was because they studied the stars and the weather.

• This meant they were able to create very detailed calendars which told them what time of year to plant crops and when they should harvest them.

• Maya calendars were more accurate than the European calendars at that time.

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