In time, this organization became a state, and knowledge of its functioning was exportable, as were pottery, tropical bird feathers, specialized stone materials, and other local commodities.

【翻译】随着时间的推移，该组织发展成为一个国家，其运作的学问，就像陶器、热带鸟的羽毛、专业的石材和其他本地商品那样，也都可以出口了。

【分析】

▲as were pottery, tropical bird feathers, specialized stone materials, and other local commodities：是方式状语从句。as的意思是“像，正如”。这是一个倒装语序，为理解方便，可以改为：

as pottery, tropical bird feathers, specialized stone materials, and other local commodities were (exportable). 意为“正如这些东西可以出口那样”，knowledge of its functioning （其运作的学问）也可以出口，说明方式。

▲as引导的方式状语，主语太长时，为避免头重脚轻，可以倒装。【注意】倒装时只能用相应的助动词。例如：

(1) They go to concerts frequently, as do my elder brother and I. 

可以译为：他们经常去听音乐会，我和哥哥也是。

也可译为：他们跟我和哥哥一样，经常去听音乐会。

(2) She’s unusually tall, as are both her parents. 

可以译为：她特别高，她父母也都那么高。

也可译为：像她父母那样，她长得特别高。

▲关键词语解释：

1. in time：后来；之后；随着时间的推移

2. knowledge of its functioning：它的运作学问或模式

3. functioning：事物的运作机制