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Questions and Answers
What did the Maya use cacao beans to make?
What did the Maya use cacao beans to make?
A chocolatey drink
The Maya used cacao beans solely for their taste.
The Maya used cacao beans solely for their taste.
False
What was the Maya word for chocolate?
What was the Maya word for chocolate?
Aside from religious ceremonies, what else did the Maya use cacao beans for?
Aside from religious ceremonies, what else did the Maya use cacao beans for?
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What civilization did the Maya likely learn cocoa cultivation from?
What civilization did the Maya likely learn cocoa cultivation from?
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The Maya initially cultivated cocoa in personal gardens.
The Maya initially cultivated cocoa in personal gardens.
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What was the primary reason for limited cocoa consumption in Mayan society?
What was the primary reason for limited cocoa consumption in Mayan society?
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Mayan commoners often consumed chocolate in the form of a luxurious drink.
Mayan commoners often consumed chocolate in the form of a luxurious drink.
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What was the primary purpose of cacao beans in Mayan marketplaces?
What was the primary purpose of cacao beans in Mayan marketplaces?
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Mayan royalty often shared cocoa beans as gifts with other rulers.
Mayan royalty often shared cocoa beans as gifts with other rulers.
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Mayan cities in ______ regions relied on tribute in the form of cocoa beans.
Mayan cities in ______ regions relied on tribute in the form of cocoa beans.
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How did the Maya leverage the use of spices?
How did the Maya leverage the use of spices?
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What was a common sweetener used by the Maya?
What was a common sweetener used by the Maya?
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What did the Maya call their raised roads?
What did the Maya call their raised roads?
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All Mayan roads were elevated as the terrain varied.
All Mayan roads were elevated as the terrain varied.
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What was the primary purpose of the Mayan roads?
What was the primary purpose of the Mayan roads?
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The longest Mayan road stretched over 100 kilometers.
The longest Mayan road stretched over 100 kilometers.
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What were the coastal Mayan groups known for using?
What were the coastal Mayan groups known for using?
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What did the coastal Mayan groups use canoes to transport inland?
What did the coastal Mayan groups use canoes to transport inland?
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The Mayans used beasts of burden to carry goods on their roads.
The Mayans used beasts of burden to carry goods on their roads.
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The Mayans preferred using ______ over land-based transportation for carrying goods.
The Mayans preferred using ______ over land-based transportation for carrying goods.
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The Spaniards arrived just before the Mayans established a system of trade through canoes.
The Spaniards arrived just before the Mayans established a system of trade through canoes.
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Apart from salted and dried meats, what else was highly prized by the Mayans?
Apart from salted and dried meats, what else was highly prized by the Mayans?
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Who controlled most of the Mayan trade?
Who controlled most of the Mayan trade?
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The price of cacao beans fluctuated regularly in the Mayan marketplace.
The price of cacao beans fluctuated regularly in the Mayan marketplace.
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Study Notes
Mayan Chocolate
- Cacao trees produce pods directly from their trunks, containing cacao beans.
- The Maya used cacao beans to make chocolate drinks as early as the 4th century AD.
- These early drinks were bitter, often flavored with chili, vanilla, or other spices.
- The drink was popular with the rich and powerful, and cacao beans were valuable.
- Cacao beans were even used as currency in Maya society.
- The Maya word for chocolate is Kakaw.
- The Maya used chocolate in religious ceremonies and also mixed it with herbs to make medicines.
Mayan Chocolate Cultivation
- The Maya, descendants of the Olmec, cultivated cocoa in suitable low-lying lands.
- Cultivation started around 200 B.C.
- When Mayan populations moved to the Yucatan, they adapted cocoa cultivation to local conditions.
- Cocoa cultivation was usually done on a small scale, sometimes requiring imports from other cities.
- This put the consumption of chocolate at a higher price level in Mayan society.
- Primarily, the elites enjoyed chocolate while the commoners consumed it less frequently.
Cocoa Beans as Currency
- Cocoa beans were a highly valued item and used as currency in Mayan marketplaces.
- Rulers used cocoa beans as gifts.
- Cities requiring cocoa beans as tribute were those that couldn't cultivate them locally.
Mayan Food Flavourings
- The Maya were skilled in using spices and other plants to flavor food and drinks.
- Chili peppers, vanilla, and cinnamon were common flavorings.
- Honey was also used as a sweetener.
- Avocado sauce was a popular food.
Mayan Roads
- The Maya built roads called "sacbeobs," raised above ground level.
- Road heights varied depending on terrain.
- Roads connected important locations and outlying areas.
- The longest known road stretched from Coba to Yaxuna, over 60 miles.
- Evidence suggests roads over 100 kilometers in length.
- Canoes were used to transport goods along coastal routes.
Mayan Commerce
- Salted and dried meats were valued.
- Trade in turquoise, gold, and copper objects emerged around 900 AD.
- Most commerce was controlled by wealthy merchants, using cacao beans as currency.
- Cacao beans had a fixed price.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of chocolate in Mayan culture, including its origins, uses in society, and the cultivation practices of cacao. Learn about the significance of cacao beans as a currency and their role in religious ceremonies. This quiz delves into the unique aspects of Mayan chocolate production and consumption.
