Maya cacao economy and trade networks (c. 200 BCE–1500 CE)

1. Preclassic cacao residues identified at Chocolá

   Jan 1, 600 BCELabels: Chocol, HPLC analysis

   • JAS Reports
   • Chocol Study

2. Classic-period cacao term standardized in vase texts

   Jan 1, 300Labels: Primary Standard, elite vessels

   • Cambridge AM

3. Pacific-slope trade zone tied to cacao production

   Jan 1, 400Labels: Pacific Slope, Takalik Abaj

   • Takalik Abaj

4. Calakmul market murals depict everyday commerce

   Jan 1, 650Labels: Calakmul, Chiik Naab

   • PNAS
   • Chiik Naab

5. Cacao identified as a high-value exchange good

   Jan 1, 700Labels: cacao commodity, Maya markets

   • Maya Civil

6. Terminal Classic turmoil reshapes lowland exchange

   Jan 1, 800Labels: Terminal Classic, lowland polity

   • Maya Civil

7. Postclassic merchant deity Ek Chuah linked to cacao

   Jan 1, 1000Labels: Ek Chuah, merchant deity

   • Frontiers 2025
   • Ek Chuah

8. Dresden Codex imagery includes cacao contexts

   Jan 1, 1200Labels: Dresden Codex, kakaw glyph

   • SLUB Dresden

9. European record of Maya canoe commerce carrying cacao

   Jul 30, 1502Labels: Columbus 1502, Guanaja canoe

   • Honduras Conq
   • Yucat n Conq

10. Early 1500s Spanish arrival disrupts cacao exchange

    Jan 1, 1511Labels: Spanish contact, early conquest

    • Maya Conquest

11. Cacao production remains notable at Spanish Conquest

    Jan 1, 1524Labels: Pacific-slope, cacao production

    • Takalik Abaj

12. Colonial transition ends independent Maya cacao economy

    Jan 1, 1600Labels: colonial incorporation, tribute systems

    • Maya Conquest