Tabasco and Chiapas
The Chontal Mayas of Tabasco emerged from coastal marshes, evolving into significant trade leaders in Mesoamerica. Their landscape resembled southeastern Georgia, marked by humid terrain and tidal marshes. Initially illiterate, the Marsh People thrived through agriculture and fishing, constructing mounds similar to those in southeastern U.S. cultures. As trade flourished, particularly with the rise of Teotihuacan, they developed advanced navigational skills and trading jargon. Following a devastating volcanic eruption in 800 AD, the Chiapas Highlands saw a decline in population, impacting agricultural networks vital to the Maya civilization.