MARC Record from Library of Congress

LEADER: 03864cam a2200421 i 4500
001 2015002902
003 DLC
005 20151202080416.0
008 150430s2015 cauab b 001 0 eng
010 $a 2015002902
020 $a9781611329971 (hardback)
020 $a9781611329988 (paperback)
020 $z9781611329995 (institutional ebook)
020 $z9781611327458 (consumer ebook)
040 $aDLC$beng$cDLC$erda$dDLC
042 $apcc
043 $an-mx---
050 00 $aF1435.3.A37$bF67 2015
082 00 $a972/.6$223
084 $aSOC002000$aSOC003000$2bisacsh
100 1 $aFord, Anabel,$eauthor.
245 14 $aThe Maya Forest Garden :$bEight Millennia of Sustainable Cultivation of the Tropical Woodlands /$cAnabel Ford and Ronald Nigh.
264 1 $aWalnut Creek, California :$bLeft Coast Press, Inc.,$c[2015]
300 $a260 pages :$billustrations, maps ;$c24 cm.
336 $atext$btxt$2rdacontent
337 $aunmediated$bn$2rdamedia
338 $avolume$bnc$2rdacarrier
490 0 $aNew frontiers in historical ecology ;$vVol. 6
520 $a"The conventional wisdom says that the devolution of Classic Maya civilization occurred because its population grew too large and dense to be supported by primitive neotropical farming methods, resulting in debilitating famines and internecine struggles. Using research on contemporary Maya farming techniques and important new archaeological research, Ford and Nigh refute this Malthusian explanation of events in ancient Central America and posit a radical alternative theory. The authors show that ancient Maya farmers developed ingenious, sustainable woodland techniques to cultivate numerous food plants (including the staple maize); examine both contemporary tropical farming techniques and the archaeological record (particularly regarding climate) to reach their conclusions; make the argument that these ancient techniques, still in use today, can support significant populations over long periods of time. "--$cProvided by publisher.
520 $a"The conventional wisdom says that the devolution of classic Maya civilization occurred because its population grew too large and dense to be supported by primitive neotropical farming methods, resulting in debilitating famines and internecine struggles. Using research on contemporary Maya farming techniques and important new archaeological research, Ford and Nigh refute this Malthusian explanation of events in ancient Central America and posit a radical alternative theory. The authors -show that ancient Maya farmers developed ingenious, sustainable woodland techniques to cultivate numerous food plants (including the staple maize); -examine both contemporary tropical farming techniques and the archaeological record (particularly regarding climate) to reach their conclusions; -make the argument that these ancient techniques, still in use today, can support significant populations over long periods of time"--$cProvided by publisher.
504 $aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 211-250) and index.
505 8 $aMachine generated contents note: Introduction: Chapter 1: The Context of the Maya Forest Chapter 2: Dwelling in the Maya Forest Chapter 3: Environmental Change and the Historical Ecology of the Maya Forest Chapter 4: Maya Land Use and Population in the Late Classic Period Chapter 5: Forested Landscape of the Ancient Maya Chapter 6: Maya Restoration Agriculture as Conservation for the 21st Century Appendix I: Native Cultigens Appendix II: Favored Trees References Index About the Authors.
650 0 $aMayas$xAgriculture.
650 0 $aIndians of Mexico$xAgriculture.
650 0 $aIndians of Central America$xAgriculture.
650 7 $aSOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General.$2bisacsh
650 7 $aSOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology.$2bisacsh
700 1 $aNigh, Ronald,$eauthor.