Amerindian Middle Ages

Yeah, I guess middle ages is the wrong word to use. more of an evolved form of Native American Civilization(s)

Anyways, those bisons and peccaries sound good, but for some reason aren't considered domesticable (which depends of course on how domesticable auroch was compared to a bison), so we'll put it under thinking cap.

However, one thing to consider is the (wide) existence of currency based economy. My knowledge of Native American economics is poor, but I believe it was mostly based around barter trading, or at least I haven't heard or read anything about the use of coinage.

So, what I want to know is, what materials were used for currency in Americas, and if there wasn't any, what would have been the best ones?
 
So, what I want to know is, what materials were used for currency in Americas, and if there wasn't any, what would have been the best ones?
Beans. They used cacao beans for currency, probably since the Classic era at least. There were counterfeiters but they had ways of finding them and counterfeiters were dwelt with harshly, so I'd say it worked pretty well for them. After all, they even had a set value, internationally even, maybe. For example, whether you were in Ekab or Cochuah or wherever 10 cacao beans would be worth 1 rabbit.
 
Beans. They used cacao beans for currency, probably since the Classic era at least. There were counterfeiters but they had ways of finding them and counterfeiters were dwelt with harshly, so I'd say it worked pretty well for them. After all, they even had a set value, internationally even, maybe. For example, whether you were in Ekab or Cochuah or wherever 10 cacao beans would be worth 1 rabbit.

Beans, huh? Actually it's not that crazy when you think about it. After all rice was an economic standard at least in Japan, and Josiah Warren used corn as a standard in Cincinnati Time Store. Although it's use in the North is still a bit open, but at least we have the South covered (unless someone comes up with something better).

Now, we know already, which Southern areas contain the potential for evolution, but the North is a bit more difficult. What I have come to conclude is that the best place for the advancement of northern city states are located in the Eastern and Western parts of the United States, the both of which had abundant natural resources and/or advanced farming. Both of these places had rater large villages, which under correct circumstances allow the creation of cities. Then there is the theory of such cities existing before the arrival of the Europeans, but were wiped out by them and their diseases (I'm not referring to those Native Americans known to have been wiped out by European diseases).

What do you think?
 
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