Which of the following does the author cite most directly to support his argument in the third paragraph about the importance of exotic goods in the Maya region?

The existence of sophisticated astronomical tables

A

The emergence of a unified Maya kingdom based on new political models

B

The emergence of new systems of writing based on earlier Mesoamerican systems

C

The existence of unified patterns of behavior in warfare, science, and religion

D

Option - A

The existence of sophisticated astronomical tables. The following statement which is the,"The existence of sophisticated astronomical tables", as the author cite most directly to support his argument in the third paragraph about the importance of exotic goods in the Maya region.

D. The existence of unified patterns of behavior in warfare, science, and religion.

Explanation:

According to a different source, this question refers to the text "Ancient Maya: The Rise and Fall of a Rainforest Civilization" by Arthur Demarest. In this text, the author argues that some of the exotic items that the Maya traded were jaguar pelts, fine textiles and feathers, which were used as symbols that unified the Maya culture. This unification was necessary for the development of complex religion, science and warfare.