<P> Evidence discovered in the past few decades seems to prove that trade was widespread among the Maya . Artifacts collected under grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, and Howard University, show that hard stones and many other goods were moved great distances (despite the inefficiency of moving goods without so - called' beasts of burden'). Modern chemical tests have taken these artifacts and confirmed that they originated in locations great distances away . There is also documented trade of goods ranging from honey to quetzal feathers throughout the Maya region . </P> <P> The goods, which were moved and traded around the empire at long distance, include: salt, cotton mantels, slaves, quetzal feathers, flint, chert, obsidian, jade, colored shells, Honey, cacao, copper tools, and ornaments . Due to the lack of wheeled cars and use of animals, these goods traveled Maya area by the sea . </P> <P> Because the Maya were so skilled at producing and distributing a wide variety of goods, they built a lifestyle based on trade throughout all of Mesoamerica, which spread to many different groups of people . It is suggested that because the Maya were so skilled as traders, they may have spared themselves from the wrath of the expanding Aztec empire . The Aztecs valued the Maya for their able to produce and trade a variety of different commodities, and because of this, the Aztecs did not feel the need to conquer the Maya . </P> <P> As trade grew in the Postclassic period, so did the demand for commodities . Many of these were produced in large specialized factory - like workshops around the empire, and then transported elsewhere mostly by sea due to poor roads and heavy cargo . Some of these commodities included, fine ceramics, stone tools, paper, jade, pyrite, quetzal feathers, cocoa beans, obsidian, copper, bronze and salt . </P>

Who would the aztecs have traded with and why