Ancient Civilizations of North America

By: Edwin Barnhart, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Edwin Barnhart

For the past few hundred years, most of what we’ve been taught about the native cultures of North America came from reports authored by the conquerors and colonizers who destroyed them. Now - with the technological advances of modern archaeology and a new perspective on world history - we are finally able to piece together their compelling true stories. In Ancient Civilizations of North America, Professor Edwin Barnhart, Director of the Maya Exploration Center, will open your eyes to a fascinating world you never knew existed - even though you’ve been living right next to it, or even on top of it, for as long as you’ve been on the continent.

The peoples of ancient North America were exceptionally knowledgeable about their environment, but their intellectual and artistic curiosity went much beyond the immediate need for food and safety. Beginning thousands of years ago, and without benefit of written language, native peoples became mathematicians, construction and soil engineers, astronomers, urban planners, and more. They developed thriving cities, extensive trade routes, canals to bring water to the desert, and earthworks we still marvel over today.

In 24 exciting lectures, you’ll learn about the vibrant cities of Poverty Point, the first city in North America, built about 3,500 years ago, and Cahokia, the largest city of ancient North America. You’ll explore the many ways in which the Chacoan environment provided cultural and religious focus for peoples of the southwest. And you’ll learn about the Iroquoian source of some of our most basic “American” values.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 The Great Courses (P)2018 The Teaching Company, LLC

A needed addition to Great Courses

After hearing good Courses on South America and Central America, North America stood out. after listening to these lectures it's easier to understand why it has not been done. Thanks seems to be much less information available. It is still important that what we have gets out there. Edwin Barnhart does very well putting a good story together with much less information than with Mezo-America or South America. Now, if the pre-contact history of Africa can only be told. As well as Northern Canadian and Alaskan early America

Fascinating!

Always curious as to things historical, this review of sites and findings in North America are certainly eye-opening, and added to my desire to know more. I recommend having an good review of the pdf materials before and during this lecture series.

One thing I wondered throughout, as the lectures start out supporting the idea that inhabitants of ancient America migrated through the Bering Strait to places south and east. So with that premise, why are most of the discoveries in the eastern part of North America, especially in relation to the age dating of those sites? It would seem logical to me, that oldest discoveries would be in Alaska, present day western Canada, and the US Pacific Northwest.

What They Don't Teach In School for Some Reason

This is an amazing lecture that covers most of the ancient history of North America. It's fast paced enough to keep from bogging down and is detailed to give you a great understanding of native American people and the environment they adapted to.

History made interesting

Very well read and presented history of native america. A lot of material to present even in a 12 hour course. He kept it moving, but at times was bit wordy and on occasion off subject. Nevertheless, I thought time was well spent and interest was maintained.

listened several times to this.

completely enjoyed this series and will probably listen to it a 3rd time to see what I missed.