The Classic Period of the Ancient Maya civilization began by 300 AD (Sabloff 2008: 35). This civilization grew out of Mesoamerica, in the area that is now modern day Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. This society was with a ruling elite that controlled large labor pools, labor which constructed many large, public and religious edifices (Sabloff 2008: 35). At its beginning, this period already had developed innovative craft activities, a hieroglyphic writing system, and s 365 day calendar. The Maya flourished for centuries during the Classic Period, especially the elite royals. The nobility lived an extravagant lifestyle, consuming luxurious food and drink, including dishes from the cacao, the sweet pod that is a key ingredient in chocolate. They wore extravagant jewelry and ordered the construction of sophisticated architecture such as palaces and temples (Roos 2016: “Ideological Traps” Lecture). They sponsored artisans and scribes and organized trade and production. But most important to note about these nobles was their “relation” to the gods. The Maya elite were the “representations of the gods” on Earth, medians between earth and heaven (Sabloff 2008:…