SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS IN PRE-COLUMBIAN SOCIETIES OF THE AMERICAS

This book provides insights into the characteristics and conditions responsible for the stability and durability of three pre-Columbian agrarian societies of the Americas. The work focuses on three ancient cultures - the Maya, the Mogollon, and the Moche - that exhibited extended periods of sustainability in markedly different environments. The text also discusses contemporary implications of these ancient sustainability insights. A decision key is used to rank ancient factors of sustainability for the three selected cultures as essential, major, or minor. A formula instrument provides an overall numerical sustainability score for each society during particular time periods. A number of intriguing conclusions and recommendations are made by the author concerning ancient sustainability and the modern applications of some of the uncovered factors. The author suggests that a common ideology, a general adaptability to major change, and a socioeconomic system that rewards value production from all its citizens be recognized as three important factors of contemporary sustainability.