Mesoamerica Maize

Report on Concepts: Maize
For Mesoamerica maize was associated with life. People were dependent on it, and it became an essential part of their society. In the creation stories people originated from maize, therefore corn was the fruit of all existence. The topic maize is significant to Mesoamerican people as evident in the deification of corn, along with rain, which is essential to the crops. The Maya had a special relationship with living things. Ceremonies are evidence of this importance because ceremonies were a means by which they asked for rain to help them grow crops. Among the modern Tzotzil, ceremonies honor the Earth god because the Earth god is the one tells the clouds to come to the earth, the clouds then give rain to the corn
so the corn does not die.
(Vogt 1969: 459). When we look at their planting methods a lot of it also involves ritual. Just like offerings are made at the top of mountain as a request for rain. Dishes of maize gruel were offered for the first seven days of planting while the farmers pray. Another example of ritual as it relates to the growth of corn is seen in the Yucatec Maya farmers. They take part in a larger agricultural ritual that includes every member of their family (Marcus 2006: 223). This ritual is done annually during the most important time of season for the crops. The ceremony is critical because it occurs when the potential for growth is the greatest. This ritual includes the entire community because the amount of crops produced could potentially bring in an abundant food supply that will feed everyone, thus everyone has to take part. It was this rise of agriculture that allowed for the construction of permanent homes. With a stable food supply and construction of housing it allowed people to settle, and all of this resulted in cities. People in the cities could practice religion, which then led to social stratification of societies,
where the priests were at the top.
Much of what we know about Mesoamerican thought is noted through their sacred accounts or mythology. According to our textbook, “The entire terrestrial level inhabited by animals, plants and humans is viewed as a tree or maize plant that repeatedly sprouts, blossoms, wilts, dies, and is reborn.” (pg.123) This worldview is held by the Tzutujil Mayas of present-day Guatemala. In ancient times the same beliefs were held in Mesoamerica along with the idea that maize plays an important role in not only mythology but in everyday aspects of life. Things like the calendar, costumes, art, ritual and religion are proof of this.
The articles I read discuss maize and the traditional alkali processing that enhances the nutritional quality of maize. As we have learned in this class one aspect of anthropology looks to examine how thoughts guide behavior. The articles are not written through an anthropological lens therefore the article often uses phrases like suggests when explaining the origin of maize in Mesoamerica, however we know this to be true. Maize emerged in Mesoamerica, this is safe to assume because of the deification of corn and its importance to the people. These beliefs influenced the ways in which corn was harvested, process, and ultimately also shaped the ways in which people viewed women because they were the ones who contributed to the grinding of corn. Also the article examines the different techniques and locations in which maize is processed differently. For example, based on what is known about maize and the special meaning it has to the people of Mesoamerica one would think that because it was largely symbolic it would be produced more in certain regions than in others where it may have not held such a deep meaning. In fact one study found that indigenous farmers perceive traditional maize to be of a greater value than other farmers. These results were expected because of the cultural importance of maize in Mesoamerica.
In the Popol Vuh, the maize is a central figure; in the lives of Mesoamerican civilization maize was the main food.
This made me think, how could they have survived on a diet that was mainly corn? The article that I found is titled Nixtamalization, a Mesoamerican technology to process maize at small-scale with great potential for improving the nutritional quality of maize based foods. It explains the process of nixtamalization. What this process does is improve the nutritional value of maize products by adding a lime solution. This ancient technique is still used today. What is most impressive about the ancient Mesoamerican societies is that they had such advanced methods of doing things that are difficult to even comprehend today. Nixtamalization or alkaline cooking uses different sources of alkali for cooking. Lime is the only source that is used in Mesoamerica. In this class we have previously speculated on the African influence as suggested by Olmec art. In regards to maize processing, although the same crop was also a primary source of food in African countries, those countries have not adopted the process. By using the nixtamalization today it could help overcome places in the world that suffer from starvation and
malnutrition.
Another way that the production of corn is related to the 21st century is by looking at who was processing, grinding and distributing the corn; in other worlds women. Evaluating the role of women in ceremonies and in transcendent gender roles led to another question that I sought to find the answer to. This was, how the role of women related to the amount of power they had and how does that affect their leadership today. By taking an in-depth look at the codices one can assume that marriage between a man and a woman is associated with power, rulers always had a wife. In the codices both women and men were present as gods. The inclusion of both sexes throughout mythology could also be related to the concept of duality and harmony that is seen in Mesoamerican societies. This is related to the production of corn because men where the ones planting and harvesting the crops but it was the women who took on the role of transforming the crops into food to be consumed. According to Rebecca Tsosie the roles of men and women in these societies is complementary. Contrary to Europeans tendency to view gender duties as better or worse, in this culture they believed that it’s not that one gender is more responsible for growing the corn, but it’s a responsibility of both genders although they have distinctive jobs and are responsible for certain tasks.
In conclusion, maize is a concept often discussed when examining worldview in Mesoamerica, because it’s present in both creation stories. Maize continues to sustain a majority of people in areas of Mexico therefore it’s important to know where it comes from, how it’s