Native Cultures in North America

The Mayan Empire and the Aztecs

In past classes, we have explored the native cultures of the regions of North America now occupied by the United States. We examined the differences in each of these cultures, from the multi-story stone buildings in the southwest to the wooden "long houses" in the northeast. Last term, we saw the northwest version of these multi-generation homes, the plank houses with their totem pole entrances. Stretching between these two cultures, we witnessed the many cultures that embraced the use of pit houses from the Great Lakes to the Rockies - he predominant house of the cultures of our region, stretching across the formidable Great Plains to the Great Lakes and the foothills of the Rockies. And we witnessed the long reach of the Mississippian mound culture from the City of Cahokia to all regions near and far for a century or so.

This term, we will explore two cultures whose empires dwarf all these, cultures whose buildings remain sound and strong to this day. The people whose trade region stretched from South America and introduced corn to the natives of North America. We turn our gaze south, to the Mesoamerican regions of Modern Mexico, to explore the civilizations of the Mayans, and the Aztecs.

Who were these people? Where did they come from? What was their culture, their practices? And what happened to them? Join historian Russ Gifford for this final term of our exploration of the Native Cultures in North America!

The Olmec and the Mayans:
An Empire That Lasts Thousands of Years

September 23

The Olmec created the first great civilization of Mesoamerica and laid the cultural patterns that would exist until the coming of the Spanish 3000 years later. They grew crops and built huge stone and earthen pyramids. They created stone leader totems that weighed tons and built a trade network that exchanged not only goods but also ideas. These ideas traveled both ways, and the Olmec thrived creating urban cities of diverse skills and jobs, all flourishing on local and long-distance trade. The Olmec dominated their era – until they didn’t. Why did their major cities fade away? What do we know of these people?

From the ashes of the Olmec demise, we will see the rise of the Maya, using the Olmec ideas of urban life and divine kings. Their cities will spread across the Mesoamerica region, and their populations with continue to increase for centuries. Their skills will also grow, with astronomy leading to advances in mathematics, all of which will be reflected in the layout of the cities, and their monuments, as well as their art. Regional cities will grow, and city-states will create powerful rulers that will battle each other for territory and dominance. These independent city-states will stretch from Guatemala to the north of modern-day Mexico City and east to the Yucatan. Their influence would dominate a range of 800 linear miles, with art and architecture that are so similar who influenced whom cannot be said with certainty.

Join Russ Gifford as we turn back time to examine the world of the Olmec and Maya cultures, which existed from 1700 BCE until the early 1200s AD.

The Coming of the Aztecs

September 30

The story of the Aztecs may not be as we heard in grade school. These men from the northern plains of modern-day Mexico moved south and were neither wanted nor appreciated. But they were nearly impossible to displace. They came as hired warriors; mercenaries so good at their job that they gained the favor of the local leaders. They traded on that skill, bonding with the most powerful group of the region and gaining the right to build their own city in a marshy wetland - really, a lake. It became a city we still know today, and the Aztecs became a powerful force. When they later rebelled against their former benefactors and lieges, they assumed power in a three-way partnership. This group would dominate central Mexico and create a national state over all the former city-states!

Join Russ Gifford as he traces the rise of this new empire, whose monuments and pyramids exist to this day. Who were they? What did they practice - and how did they fall? Join Russ Gifford for this look at a group we all know about but know less about than we think!