How the ancient Mayans used chocolate, and why it became one of the reasons for the fall of this civilization

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Did anyone eat a chocolate bar that was literally worth its weight in gold? But the inhabitants of ancient Mesoamerica could do it every day. New research suggests that chocolate became something of money in the midst of Mayan power, and that the loss of the delicacy may have played a role in the downfall of a famous civilization.

No one will argue that there is simply nowhere without money, and that this is one of the most important concepts in the history of mankind. Some people love them, others hate them, but the fact is that people devote a lot of time to making money. Although everyone is used to paper bills today, a number of items that have been used as cash throughout history have been downright unusual. For example, in the islands of Palau and Yap, four-ton stone discs called "Rai stones" are still used to measure the wealth of local residents. Playing cards became the legal currency in New France in the 18th century as the supply of gold and silver declined steadily. Colonial Virginia used tobacco as currency, and in British Canada, beaver skins were used instead of metal coins.

But perhaps the strangest currency was that of the Mayan people. They used to pay taxes and trade … cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made.

Why exactly cocoa beans

In an article published in the journal Economic Anthropology, Joan Baron of Bard Early College Network argues that images of cocoa beans in Mayan art show how chocolate was gradually transformed from food (albeit quite valuable) into money used for shopping. and payment of taxes.

The Maya, like any other culture, depicted everyday life in their art. There is one interesting fact. The earliest artwork showed very few cocoa beans and was clearly used as food. And by the 8th century, cocoa was already on almost all images, and chocolate was already used both to pay taxes and in trade. The trick is that 11 million beans were paid in taxes every year, and only 2 million were eaten. Accordingly, what was left for the nobility to do with the nine million beans other than use them as money.

It is possible that the Maya began to depict cocoa beans more often in their art only after they officially made them money. Moreover, it is worth remembering that later the Aztecs began to do the same (there is documented evidence of this).

Why the Maya considered these beans so valuable

The Mesoamericans have been growing cocoa since 2000 BC, initially making it a low-alcohol beverage. Later, locals developed a frothy soft drink similar to hot chocolate. This refreshing treat quickly became more popular than its predecessor and was used in offerings to the gods. They loved chocolate so much that they invented their own deity for cocoa, who was regularly worshiped.

The 16th century naturalist Francisco Hernandez discovered that although four types of cocoa beans grew in modern Mexico, only the smallest beans were allowed to make hot chocolate. Larger beans were used only for exchange.

The Spanish conquerors of Mexico also noted that since the quality of the beans was often determined by their appearance, the enterprising Maya and Aztecs began to tint the poor-quality beans with ash. Sometimes it seems that no matter what money is made of, it will still be forged.

How people grew money on trees

Since the cocoa tree is quite finicky (it likes to grow in highly moist soil), people simply couldn't just grow money in their backyards. Only in certain regions of the Mayan homeland could beans be produced in large quantities. Therefore, there was never an oversupply of chocolate, and its value did not diminish.

How chocolate was associated with the fall of the Mayan empire

Scientists speculate that a disruption in the supply of beans could have contributed to the downfall of the Mayan civilization, causing an acute economic collapse. However, this is only a theory, as others believe that a shortage of one commodity of moderate value is unlikely to lead to the destruction of civilization.

So, while gold and silver coins have been popular with most civilizations, the examples above show that with a little creativity you can use anything as money. And honestly, wouldn't everyone be happy if they were paid with chocolate from time to time.