Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Dean, Erin
Area of Concentration
Environmental Studies
Abstract
This thesis explores the milpa agricultural system utilized by the indigenous Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula. Informed by both personal fieldwork and anthropological texts, the first two chapters describe the technical and cultural practices within the system. Through this description, I demonstrate the multi-faceted character of the milpa, a framework for food production, environmental management, and cultural expression. This traditional system is not confined to a period of history, but rather continuously adapts to changes in environmental conditions, human needs, and market influences. However, the productive capacity of the milpa field has declined under the pressures of increasingly intense change, leading to a reduction in milpa practice. The final chapters highlight the efforts to preserve the milpa system and articulate its essential role in a just and sustainable future.
Recommended Citation
Nolan, Allegra, "THE YUCATEC MAYA MILPA: INTEGRATING LIVELIHOOD, ENVIRONMENT, AND CULTURE" (2019). Theses & ETDs. 5764.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5764