Cacao, vanilla and annatto: Three production and exchange systems in the Southern Maya lowlands, XVI-XVII centuries 

 - Journal of Latin American Geography. 5(2), 29-52, 2006, DOI: 10.1353/lag.2006.0015 .
<br/><br/> In this paper various historic agrosystems in the Maya Lowlands are examined; two of them specialized in semi-intensive and intensive production of three main crops: cacao, annatto and vanilla. The paper also examines the political and military pressure exerted by the Itzá on the Lacandón and Manché Chol territories which produced these valued crops. After the conquest of Verapaz, Spanish civil and religious authorities also exercised constant pressure over these territories and the encomienda towns of Verapaz traded with them to obtain cacao and annato. The Manché Chol cacao orchards are presented as an example of true cacao plantations. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>ANNATTO<br/>CACAO<br/>CHOCOLATE<br/>ITZÁ MAYA<br/>LACANDON<br/>MANCHE CHOL<br/>SOUTHERN MAYA LOWLANDS<br/>TRADING SYSTEMS<br/>VANILLA