Final answer:
Mayan trade and transportation were limited mainly due to the lack of large domesticated animals to use as beasts of burden and a scarcity of navigable riverways for connectivity between cities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The limited Mayan trade and transportation was primarily due to lack of large animals to use as beasts of burden. The Mayans did have a wheel concept but did not utilize it for transport, presumably because the rough and varied terrain of Mesoamerica made wheeled vehicles less practical without large animals to pull them. Additionally, there was a lack of abundant navigable riverways connecting major cities which could have aided in transportation. Unlike other ancient civilizations such as the Romans, the Mayans didn't have access to a large population of domesticated animals suitable for carrying heavy loads over long distances. This limitation was significant in shaping the methods of trade and transportation the civilization developed.