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The Great Courses
Ancient Civilizations of North America
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.
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.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 22, 2018
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January 20, 2026
These lectures tell the story of the history of Native Americans prior to European contact in those portions of North America that are today the United States and Canada. Many people are unaware of the complexity of some of the early cultures that once existed in this area. There were cities of thousands of people living in finely built houses, palaces, temples and wide public plazas. Virtually every parameter used by the Western world to define civilization were present including roads, connecting cities, kings and councils, architects and astronomers, as well as great artists and musicians.
Much of this history was obscured by the damaging impacts of the European arrival on the continent. However, modern techniques of archeology, science, and genetic tracing have pieced together its history that otherwise could not be known.
The lectures start by looking at human migration into North America—three waves at 30,000 BP, 16,500 BP, and 15,000 BP through Beringia. Next, the course moves toward Paleo-Indian times and how cultures called Clovis (13,300 to 12,700 BP) and Folsom (11,000 to 10,000 BP) roamed early North America in search of mammoths, giant bison, and other megafauna that was present in the era following the last Ice Age.
After the megafauna died off, North America’s population entered what classified as the Archaic period (10,000 BP to European contact). A few cultures were still living the Archaic lifestyle at European contact. Others developed more complex civilizations identified now as Hopewell, Adena, and Mound Builder cultures.
There are multiple lectures focused on the Mississippian and American Southwest cultures (multiple lectures on Hobokam, Mogollon, and Ancestral Puebloans [a.k.a Anasazi]). These cultures formed surprising large cities and trading connections. Many of their structures showed sophisticated awareness of astronomical parameters.
The lectures end with a discussion of the complex hunter-gatherers of the Pacific Coast, the bison hunters of the Great Plains, and the indigenous peoples of Northeast North America (Algonquin and Iroquois).
A list of the twenty-four lecture titles can be viewed at this link:
https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/a...
The following are a collection of various items I found of particular interest:
Migrations:
Archeological and DNA evidence indicates two major migrations and maybe a third from Asia into North America. The first wave entered Beringia 30,000 BP, staying and mutating into unique haplogroups. A second wave entered 16,500 BP; they mixed with the local population and quickly migrated south, all the way to South America. A third wave possibly entered Beringia 15,000 BP.
Regional Communication:
The Clovis technology spread all the way across North America and maintained uniformity for approximately 600 years (13,300 to 12,700 BP) which indicates an amazing level of communication, travel, and trade among local groups. In later epochs this communication between groups ended and the various regional groups developed unique and different styles of tools. Some cross country communication continued into the era of Folsom culture (11,000 BP to 10,000 BP) however it was restricted to bison territory of the Great Plains.
Corn:
There is evidence of corn reaching the American Southwest as early as 2100 BCE, but it didn’t spread. (The earliest date for domesticated corn in Mexico is about 9000 BP.) In 2015, a DNA study revealed corn’s route into the southwest. It came in two waves: once through the mountains in 2100 BCE, and again 2,000 years later following the Gulf of California coastline. For the first 1,000 years of its presence in the southwest, people barely used it.
Bow and Arrow:
Apparently, bow and arrow technology was invented only one time in human history and spread through adoption by neighboring groups. This is indicated by the slow movement of the first appearance of the technology from Africa across Europe and Asia and finally into North America. The first bow and arrow appeared in South Africa 71,000 years ago. Europe had it by 9,000 years ago, and Siberia had it by 5,000 years ago. North American’s first bow and arrow emerged around 2300 BCE, however it took another 3,000 years to make it from Canada into the central United States (circa 700 CE). Prior to the bow and arrow humans used spears and atlatls.
Large Cities:
One of the earliest examples of a large community living in close proximity is at Poverty Point in northeastern Louisiana.
Peace and War:
During some eras people lived in peace. However, during other times substantial numbers of buried bodies showed signs of violent death.
Human Sacrifice:
Archeological evidence includes some scattered evidence of human sacrifice in some eras. However, I was astounded to learn about the following ritual human sacrifice among the Pawnee as late as 1838 CE:
The story of Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico is amazing. It is a sweeping collection of structures and roads constructed between 900 CE and 1150 CE. Archaeoastronomy evidence indicates planning with consciousness of numerous astronomical parameters. And the most amazing thing about the place is that there is NO evidence of people living there for any length of time. People apparently met there during certain times of the year during which time they constructed additional improvements. But they lived in homes elsewhere for most of the year. It was apparently a ritual meeting place, but not a place lived in throughout the year.
Much of this history was obscured by the damaging impacts of the European arrival on the continent. However, modern techniques of archeology, science, and genetic tracing have pieced together its history that otherwise could not be known.
The lectures start by looking at human migration into North America—three waves at 30,000 BP, 16,500 BP, and 15,000 BP through Beringia. Next, the course moves toward Paleo-Indian times and how cultures called Clovis (13,300 to 12,700 BP) and Folsom (11,000 to 10,000 BP) roamed early North America in search of mammoths, giant bison, and other megafauna that was present in the era following the last Ice Age.
After the megafauna died off, North America’s population entered what classified as the Archaic period (10,000 BP to European contact). A few cultures were still living the Archaic lifestyle at European contact. Others developed more complex civilizations identified now as Hopewell, Adena, and Mound Builder cultures.
There are multiple lectures focused on the Mississippian and American Southwest cultures (multiple lectures on Hobokam, Mogollon, and Ancestral Puebloans [a.k.a Anasazi]). These cultures formed surprising large cities and trading connections. Many of their structures showed sophisticated awareness of astronomical parameters.
The lectures end with a discussion of the complex hunter-gatherers of the Pacific Coast, the bison hunters of the Great Plains, and the indigenous peoples of Northeast North America (Algonquin and Iroquois).
A list of the twenty-four lecture titles can be viewed at this link:
https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/a...
The following are a collection of various items I found of particular interest:
Migrations:
Archeological and DNA evidence indicates two major migrations and maybe a third from Asia into North America. The first wave entered Beringia 30,000 BP, staying and mutating into unique haplogroups. A second wave entered 16,500 BP; they mixed with the local population and quickly migrated south, all the way to South America. A third wave possibly entered Beringia 15,000 BP.
Regional Communication:
The Clovis technology spread all the way across North America and maintained uniformity for approximately 600 years (13,300 to 12,700 BP) which indicates an amazing level of communication, travel, and trade among local groups. In later epochs this communication between groups ended and the various regional groups developed unique and different styles of tools. Some cross country communication continued into the era of Folsom culture (11,000 BP to 10,000 BP) however it was restricted to bison territory of the Great Plains.
Corn:
There is evidence of corn reaching the American Southwest as early as 2100 BCE, but it didn’t spread. (The earliest date for domesticated corn in Mexico is about 9000 BP.) In 2015, a DNA study revealed corn’s route into the southwest. It came in two waves: once through the mountains in 2100 BCE, and again 2,000 years later following the Gulf of California coastline. For the first 1,000 years of its presence in the southwest, people barely used it.
Bow and Arrow:
Apparently, bow and arrow technology was invented only one time in human history and spread through adoption by neighboring groups. This is indicated by the slow movement of the first appearance of the technology from Africa across Europe and Asia and finally into North America. The first bow and arrow appeared in South Africa 71,000 years ago. Europe had it by 9,000 years ago, and Siberia had it by 5,000 years ago. North American’s first bow and arrow emerged around 2300 BCE, however it took another 3,000 years to make it from Canada into the central United States (circa 700 CE). Prior to the bow and arrow humans used spears and atlatls.
Large Cities:
One of the earliest examples of a large community living in close proximity is at Poverty Point in northeastern Louisiana.
Poverty Point was a planned community covering 910 acres. 1800 BCE. Hundreds of acres were leveled at once. The site’s mounds and living spaces were put in shortly after, improved over time, and were occupied until around 700 BCE. That means Poverty Point was a living city for over 1,000 years.During the Mississippian culture era there were multiple examples of settled communities of substantial size forming. For example Cahokia—in the vicinity of present day St Louis—had a population of 10,000 to 15,000 with another 20,000 to 30,000 living in neighboring communities.
Peace and War:
During some eras people lived in peace. However, during other times substantial numbers of buried bodies showed signs of violent death.
Human Sacrifice:
Archeological evidence includes some scattered evidence of human sacrifice in some eras. However, I was astounded to learn about the following ritual human sacrifice among the Pawnee as late as 1838 CE:
The associated ceremony involved the capture and sacrifice of a young girl from an enemy tribe. A male warrior would have a vision, and the priests would give him a special costume from within the Morning Star Bundle. He would then capture a girl. She was tied naked to a scaffold. As Mars rose as the morning star, first the warrior and then the entire village would shoot her with arrows. The last known morning star ceremony was in 1838, when a 15‐year‐old Oglala Sioux girl was sacrificed. American settlers were appalled and shut it down.Chaco Canyon:
The story of Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico is amazing. It is a sweeping collection of structures and roads constructed between 900 CE and 1150 CE. Archaeoastronomy evidence indicates planning with consciousness of numerous astronomical parameters. And the most amazing thing about the place is that there is NO evidence of people living there for any length of time. People apparently met there during certain times of the year during which time they constructed additional improvements. But they lived in homes elsewhere for most of the year. It was apparently a ritual meeting place, but not a place lived in throughout the year.
November 10, 2019
Here is yet another excellent series of lectures released by the Great Courses. I bought this on a whim while it was on sale, and it was an fortunate choice. I was shamefully ignorant of this subject beforehand. Aside from the Maya, the Aztec, and the Incans (none of whom are covered in this course, since Barnhart focuses on the present-day United States and Canada), I could not name any major pre-contact civilizations in the Americas.
Barnhart begins with our hazy knowledge about the first peopling of the continent. The dates are still contested, as is the method that the early migrants used to reach the New World. DNA evidence heavily favors the hypothesis that humans first reached the New World from Asia, though the theory of an Atlantic crossing is still entertained by some. Far less certain is when this first arrival occurred. For a long while it was believed to have been around 11,000 BCE, but potentially older sites have begun to appear.
Barnhart then moves on to the Clovis Tool industry—the first widespread archaeological culture in the Americas—and the contemporary megafaunal extinction (which he believes was not caused by the humans, but by climate change). Then, after reviewing some of the developments of the archaic period (such as the arrival of Corn from Meso-America) we get to the first known city in North America: Poverty Point. Named after a former plantation in Louisiana, this is a massive series of ridges and mounds whose purpose is still not entirely known. To my eye the symmetrical pattern looks as though it must have had a ceremonial function. But people lived there, too—in the thousands—despite the fact that they were not agriculturalists and eating mostly fish and reptiles.
Poverty Point was the harbringer of a series of cultures sometimes collectively known as the mound-builders (though some would say this is a less than respectful way to call them). This includes the Adena and the Hopewell; and as the name suggests, all these cultures made earthen mounds or pyramids. One of the biggest of these, Monk’s Mound, comes from the Mississippian settlement of Cahokia, another important archaeological site. All of these cultures had vast trade networks that interconnected far-flung people, as well as impressive artistic traditions.
Barnhart then shifts his sights to the American Southwest, which was the home to an equally amazing mosaic of cultures across time and space. These civilizations were based on domesticated corn which had come up from the south. Among the people who eked out a life in this difficult environment were the Basket-Makers, the Mogollon, and the Hohokam people—the last of which are known for their massive irrigation networks. The most striking of all were the Ancestral Pueblo people (previously called the Anasazi), who lived in densely-packed apartment-like clusters of buildings with hundreds of rooms. Nobody can see an image of the Cliff Palace in the Mesa Verda national park and doubt that this was an impressive civilization.
More impressive still is the series of ruins in Chaco Canyon: a complex of buildings big enough to house thousands, and yet betraying no signs of mass habitation. Even the stately roads that lead to and from the canyon stop abruptly after some kilometers, without leading to any destination. A ritual use comes to mind as an obvious explanation. And this is reinforced by the solar and lunar orientations of buildings and structures, some of which were designed to let in sharp shafts of light (known as “sun daggers”) at certain times of the year. An archaeo-astronomist, Barnhart takes care to note an awareness of heavenly rhythms, not only here in Chaco Canyon, but in many of the cultures mentioned above.
The lectures end with an overview of the peoples of North America right before contact. Aside from the civilizations in the Mississippi Valley and the Southwest, there were the bison hunters of the plains, the people of the Northwest (famous for their totem poles), and the Algonquians and Iroquois of the Northeast. The final impression is one of amazing cultural diversity and a high degree of sophistication.
In many ways this lecture series did what I hoped Charles Mann’s 1491 would do. Rather than using indirect data to make speculations about pre-contact peoples, as Mann does, Barnhart stays grounded in the archaeological record, firmly tied to what can be deduced from artifacts and ruins. And he does a wonderful job at telling a coherent story from mute and fragmentary evidence. I look forward to his other lecture series on Central and South America.
Barnhart begins with our hazy knowledge about the first peopling of the continent. The dates are still contested, as is the method that the early migrants used to reach the New World. DNA evidence heavily favors the hypothesis that humans first reached the New World from Asia, though the theory of an Atlantic crossing is still entertained by some. Far less certain is when this first arrival occurred. For a long while it was believed to have been around 11,000 BCE, but potentially older sites have begun to appear.
Barnhart then moves on to the Clovis Tool industry—the first widespread archaeological culture in the Americas—and the contemporary megafaunal extinction (which he believes was not caused by the humans, but by climate change). Then, after reviewing some of the developments of the archaic period (such as the arrival of Corn from Meso-America) we get to the first known city in North America: Poverty Point. Named after a former plantation in Louisiana, this is a massive series of ridges and mounds whose purpose is still not entirely known. To my eye the symmetrical pattern looks as though it must have had a ceremonial function. But people lived there, too—in the thousands—despite the fact that they were not agriculturalists and eating mostly fish and reptiles.
Poverty Point was the harbringer of a series of cultures sometimes collectively known as the mound-builders (though some would say this is a less than respectful way to call them). This includes the Adena and the Hopewell; and as the name suggests, all these cultures made earthen mounds or pyramids. One of the biggest of these, Monk’s Mound, comes from the Mississippian settlement of Cahokia, another important archaeological site. All of these cultures had vast trade networks that interconnected far-flung people, as well as impressive artistic traditions.
Barnhart then shifts his sights to the American Southwest, which was the home to an equally amazing mosaic of cultures across time and space. These civilizations were based on domesticated corn which had come up from the south. Among the people who eked out a life in this difficult environment were the Basket-Makers, the Mogollon, and the Hohokam people—the last of which are known for their massive irrigation networks. The most striking of all were the Ancestral Pueblo people (previously called the Anasazi), who lived in densely-packed apartment-like clusters of buildings with hundreds of rooms. Nobody can see an image of the Cliff Palace in the Mesa Verda national park and doubt that this was an impressive civilization.
More impressive still is the series of ruins in Chaco Canyon: a complex of buildings big enough to house thousands, and yet betraying no signs of mass habitation. Even the stately roads that lead to and from the canyon stop abruptly after some kilometers, without leading to any destination. A ritual use comes to mind as an obvious explanation. And this is reinforced by the solar and lunar orientations of buildings and structures, some of which were designed to let in sharp shafts of light (known as “sun daggers”) at certain times of the year. An archaeo-astronomist, Barnhart takes care to note an awareness of heavenly rhythms, not only here in Chaco Canyon, but in many of the cultures mentioned above.
The lectures end with an overview of the peoples of North America right before contact. Aside from the civilizations in the Mississippi Valley and the Southwest, there were the bison hunters of the plains, the people of the Northwest (famous for their totem poles), and the Algonquians and Iroquois of the Northeast. The final impression is one of amazing cultural diversity and a high degree of sophistication.
In many ways this lecture series did what I hoped Charles Mann’s 1491 would do. Rather than using indirect data to make speculations about pre-contact peoples, as Mann does, Barnhart stays grounded in the archaeological record, firmly tied to what can be deduced from artifacts and ruins. And he does a wonderful job at telling a coherent story from mute and fragmentary evidence. I look forward to his other lecture series on Central and South America.
September 10, 2021
The sad fact that the American education system barely spends any time on pre-colonized America and the people who lived here, much less how they lived, means that much of this was new to me. And pop culture doesn't help, hammering home the image of the nomadic, teepee-dwelling plains tribes. I knew there were burial mounds throughout the south but had never heard of a pyramid-sized mound structure once existing in northern Louisiana to rival the pyramids in Meso-America and even predated those in Egypt.
Barnhart takes the listener from the earliest known settlements, which appear to be even further back that previously believed (which backs up what another lecturer for the Languages of the World series said as well), and from the east to west coasts of North America and everything in between. He also explains some of the limitations they have in excavating sites and especially in attempting to date the artifacts found there. He shares his frustration about a couple of sites that were gutted and all but destroyed by treasure hunters, as well as his optimism for what better preserved sites might be able to tell us given enough time to study them.
Once again, my library for some reason doesn't provide the PDFs that come with this lecture series, so I don't know what the supplementary material is like. Still, this provides enough information to give you a starting point if you decide you want to learn more about the cultures described here. He has a couple of other lecture series with Great Courses that I will definitely want to check out at a future point.
Barnhart takes the listener from the earliest known settlements, which appear to be even further back that previously believed (which backs up what another lecturer for the Languages of the World series said as well), and from the east to west coasts of North America and everything in between. He also explains some of the limitations they have in excavating sites and especially in attempting to date the artifacts found there. He shares his frustration about a couple of sites that were gutted and all but destroyed by treasure hunters, as well as his optimism for what better preserved sites might be able to tell us given enough time to study them.
Once again, my library for some reason doesn't provide the PDFs that come with this lecture series, so I don't know what the supplementary material is like. Still, this provides enough information to give you a starting point if you decide you want to learn more about the cultures described here. He has a couple of other lecture series with Great Courses that I will definitely want to check out at a future point.
January 13, 2019
As an erstwhile student of history, one particular region that I intentionally did not study is that of the Americas. To me this lecture series was a good place to start as any. And for a person like me, who is fascinated by archaeology, this indeed was a treat to listen to. The lectures helped in clarifying many misconceptions and threw up a lot of issues to ponder upon. Now its time to read about the native americans' history, soon...
July 28, 2019
An interesting journey through the ancient cultures of North America.
The lectures were very engaging and interesting. I learned a lot.
I think the reason that histories like these aren't as interesting as I might like this because of the lack of written history. All those millennia and centuries and we don't know the name of anyone who lived back then or what they did or anything like that. I think that's why I've read so many books about the Greco-Roman world, that is because the Greco-Roman world had so many books. We know the names of people and we know something of their stories. It's people that make history the most interesting to me. Other than what we learned from the indigenous peoples post-contact, all we really know about that ancient world comes from the material culture left behind, from archaeology. I wish we knew more. I bet all the stuff we don't know would've been fascinating.
Anyway, these were a nice set of lectures, a good addition to my ongoing efforts to expand my personal horizons.
The lectures were very engaging and interesting. I learned a lot.
I think the reason that histories like these aren't as interesting as I might like this because of the lack of written history. All those millennia and centuries and we don't know the name of anyone who lived back then or what they did or anything like that. I think that's why I've read so many books about the Greco-Roman world, that is because the Greco-Roman world had so many books. We know the names of people and we know something of their stories. It's people that make history the most interesting to me. Other than what we learned from the indigenous peoples post-contact, all we really know about that ancient world comes from the material culture left behind, from archaeology. I wish we knew more. I bet all the stuff we don't know would've been fascinating.
Anyway, these were a nice set of lectures, a good addition to my ongoing efforts to expand my personal horizons.
June 26, 2022
Думаю, правильнее было назвать Ancient Civilizations of modern USA and a bit of Canada. Забавно, что традиции индейцев европейцы считали appalling и barbaric, а преднамеренное и планомерное уничтожение коренного населения таковым не считали.
История Эрнандо де Сото просто удивительная - Испания, Центральная Америка, экспедиция на Юкатан, поход против инков в Перу, Куба, Флорида, юго-восток США, Миссисипи... И все без GPS.
Не понимаю, почему лектор использует метрическую систему для измерения массы, но не длины?
История Эрнандо де Сото просто удивительная - Испания, Центральная Америка, экспедиция на Юкатан, поход против инков в Перу, Куба, Флорида, юго-восток США, Миссисипи... И все без GPS.
Не понимаю, почему лектор использует метрическую систему для измерения массы, но не длины?
November 25, 2020
A story of cultures you were never told about, told by a person who is infectious in his enthusiasm for the subject. I am a strong believer in the fact that anything can be interesting if told by the right person and Mr. Barnhart is the right person.
I learned so much in this lecture series and found so many more places to visit. While i vaguely knew about the cultures of the South West, the rest of this information was new to me and for that alone this is a series worth listening too.
Highly recommended.
I learned so much in this lecture series and found so many more places to visit. While i vaguely knew about the cultures of the South West, the rest of this information was new to me and for that alone this is a series worth listening too.
Highly recommended.
January 13, 2021
Another great history lesson from the Great Courses. I learned a few new things about the Pacific Northwest but I new them fairly well already. The lectures on The First Nations of the southwest and the Mississipian Mound Builders on the other hand covered a lot of material that was new to me. Per usual with TGC, I've since spent a lot of time googling many of the subjects covered. And I'm adding Barnhart's Maya to Aztec & Lost Worlds of South America to my 2021 list.
September 22, 2020
While not as engrossing as Barnhart's Great Courses about South and Central American peoples, this is still an excellent source. Barnhart's information is wonderfully conveayed.
May 3, 2022
Our public education in American doesn't do Native American history justice. We learn that they probably walked over a land bridge thousands of years ago near Alaska and populated the Americas from there, but the rest of what we learn is basically their interactions with the European Settlers.
Barnhart dives into the history of what we know from an archaeological standpoint, including the multiple migrations, details on the way we think many of these civilizations lived, and the technology they used and developed.
Barnhart's analysis is based strongly in the facts derived from the archaeological evidence. He doesn't attempt to extrapolate far outside of the limited scraps of information we've found. This is great from an educational standpoint, but all the missing information and guesses make it hard to form a contiguous and engaging story of these people. Instead, we get heavy repetition of things like, "We know these people had pottery from the pots we found." There seems to be very little surviving writing from these civilizations, so we understand even less of what they were thinking or how they lived.
This is one of the least engaging "Great Courses" lectures I've listened to. It's not clear if it's the lecturer or the topic, but it was much harder to absorb and relate to than other courses.
Barnhart dives into the history of what we know from an archaeological standpoint, including the multiple migrations, details on the way we think many of these civilizations lived, and the technology they used and developed.
Barnhart's analysis is based strongly in the facts derived from the archaeological evidence. He doesn't attempt to extrapolate far outside of the limited scraps of information we've found. This is great from an educational standpoint, but all the missing information and guesses make it hard to form a contiguous and engaging story of these people. Instead, we get heavy repetition of things like, "We know these people had pottery from the pots we found." There seems to be very little surviving writing from these civilizations, so we understand even less of what they were thinking or how they lived.
This is one of the least engaging "Great Courses" lectures I've listened to. It's not clear if it's the lecturer or the topic, but it was much harder to absorb and relate to than other courses.
June 8, 2020
I was really interested to learn about Ancient North American civilizations but I didn't know where to start, this series of lectures provide really solid grounding in the subject as it is a comprehensive and unsparingly detailed overview! It contains lectures on the first Beringia crossings, Clovis culture, the Archaic and Late Archaic period, Poverty Point amphitheater-shaped city, Medicine wheels, Adena and Hopewell culture, the Mississippian culture and chief city of Cahokia and the arrival of Fernando de Soto, the Ancient Southwest culture comprised of Basketmaker culture and Ancient Pueblo (formerly Anasazi) culture, the Mogollon and Hohokam peoples rising adjacent to the Ancient Southwest, and the Later Period cultures.
January 4, 2019
Fascinating.
May 25, 2020
I watched the video version of this 12-hour Great Course through Kanopy, and learned so much! Over the years, I have visited Cahokia (near St. Louis), Poverty Point (eastern Louisiana), and Canyon de Chelly (Arizona). And various Ancestral Pueblo sites in CO and NM. But pretty much everything else in the course was new to me.
A subfield, archaeoastronomy, has shown that a number of these sites featured astonishing solar and lunar alignments. I was amazed at the variety of social structures, customs and artwork in the various cultures, and that they are mostly unknown even to those of us who live on this continent. Highly recommended!
A subfield, archaeoastronomy, has shown that a number of these sites featured astonishing solar and lunar alignments. I was amazed at the variety of social structures, customs and artwork in the various cultures, and that they are mostly unknown even to those of us who live on this continent. Highly recommended!
December 17, 2018
Many of us grow up with the impression that there were no significant Native American civilizations north of Mexico prior to European colonization. That's not correct. Much of what we usually think we know about North America prior to European contact is in fact a result of European contact. Europeans brought Eurasian diseases even when they weren't violent and destructive on their own--as they so often were. Die-offs due to diseases the inhabitants had no prior exposure to and hence no resistance to, destructively violent raids and burning of cities and towns, changes created due to the horses and the pigs Europeans brought--all caused major changes, and in multiple ways wiped out much of what was here before, usually with few good records.
Barnhart is a very good lecturer, lively, interesting, informative. He has a self-deprecating humor about areas where he disagrees with his colleagues, and is respectful when talking about others' ideas that he is not wholly convinced of. This is an absolutely engrossing tour of pre-European North America, from what we've been able to learn of the earliest arrivals, to the nations and ways of life that existed when Europeans reached the various parts of North America. Farmers, astronomers, urban planners, engineers, all created great works only some of which survive even as ruins today.
I'd have loved to see more in-depth discussion of the bio-engineering of maize (corn) out of far less useful plants, or of the Iroquois Confederation, its formation, growth, and influence on the design of the US Constitution, but this is not that book. This is a tour, a survey, an introduction, and it's a fascinating one. The points on which you want to go chase down more information may be different from mine, but you will have them.
Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
Barnhart is a very good lecturer, lively, interesting, informative. He has a self-deprecating humor about areas where he disagrees with his colleagues, and is respectful when talking about others' ideas that he is not wholly convinced of. This is an absolutely engrossing tour of pre-European North America, from what we've been able to learn of the earliest arrivals, to the nations and ways of life that existed when Europeans reached the various parts of North America. Farmers, astronomers, urban planners, engineers, all created great works only some of which survive even as ruins today.
I'd have loved to see more in-depth discussion of the bio-engineering of maize (corn) out of far less useful plants, or of the Iroquois Confederation, its formation, growth, and influence on the design of the US Constitution, but this is not that book. This is a tour, a survey, an introduction, and it's a fascinating one. The points on which you want to go chase down more information may be different from mine, but you will have them.
Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
February 20, 2019
Based on 2 stars showing OK and 3 showing I liked it, this is 2 stars.
I was interested to refresh and expand on lessons I learned growing up. I was surprised to hear the author mispronounce names of cities and rivers just a few hours from my hometown. Tough to imagine that's changed without my learning about it.
For as interesting and deep as he can go into specific cultures - letting the learner contrast what happened in different areas at the same time and how these societies developed, grew, and dispersed - the author/lecturer throws in strange asides about the importance of current conventions, that regional colonial governors who did not interact or visit the area of North America he's talking about were fired for corruption, that he prefers referencing years as Before the Current Era rather than really simplifying to XXXX number years ago. (Other highlights include: I know this one teacher and he's nice and loaned me equipment to dig a time capsule for my kids elementary school. I read an article that wasn't published, may not have passed peer review, but I know the guy so here's the theory he had.)
The weird part of this is that the final 5-10 minutes is some of the best parts of this course. It puts lots of history into perspective. It's too bad the entire series wasn't so focused and precise.
I've learned from this, but I was happy to move on to other books. It's cluttered and could use better editing and focus. It was ... OK.
I was interested to refresh and expand on lessons I learned growing up. I was surprised to hear the author mispronounce names of cities and rivers just a few hours from my hometown. Tough to imagine that's changed without my learning about it.
For as interesting and deep as he can go into specific cultures - letting the learner contrast what happened in different areas at the same time and how these societies developed, grew, and dispersed - the author/lecturer throws in strange asides about the importance of current conventions, that regional colonial governors who did not interact or visit the area of North America he's talking about were fired for corruption, that he prefers referencing years as Before the Current Era rather than really simplifying to XXXX number years ago. (Other highlights include: I know this one teacher and he's nice and loaned me equipment to dig a time capsule for my kids elementary school. I read an article that wasn't published, may not have passed peer review, but I know the guy so here's the theory he had.)
The weird part of this is that the final 5-10 minutes is some of the best parts of this course. It puts lots of history into perspective. It's too bad the entire series wasn't so focused and precise.
I've learned from this, but I was happy to move on to other books. It's cluttered and could use better editing and focus. It was ... OK.
February 4, 2023
This is exactly the kind of historical documentation I’m into. Edwin does a great job of balancing theories of what happened in the ancient past while distinguishing very clearly what can be absolutely proven. It keeps you engaged and thinking, without feeling like you’re going to be fed something opinionated or biased.
The opening that leans a bit into the moral scolding against terms that, at worst, were inaccurate upon their conception, does give you the feeling that you’re going to get something with some narrative nudges, but the rest of the book had no issues whatsoever.
I absolutely loved reading this book and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the ancient histories of North America.
The opening that leans a bit into the moral scolding against terms that, at worst, were inaccurate upon their conception, does give you the feeling that you’re going to get something with some narrative nudges, but the rest of the book had no issues whatsoever.
I absolutely loved reading this book and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the ancient histories of North America.
August 9, 2019
I finished this series of lectures with a new appreciation for the great number and diversity of pre-columbian North American societies. I really liked how the lecturer is very frank about what can be reasonable known by the archaeological evidence and what can only be guessed or not known at all.
September 27, 2020
A very impressive lecture series, clearly presented by an expert who knows the field and loves it (with all it's difficulties and warts intact). The topic is fascinating, covering the history of native American culture over the period from migration through European contact, at least for the areas of the contiguous United States and nearby Canada. It is a powerful summary of current knowledge, and a clear framework for putting all the cultures into an understandable picture -- a picture that I was really unaware of other than knowing individual pieces without context. This is also a marvelous example of describing, for a specific topic, how we know what we know, and why that should be mostly compelling to someone not a specialist. The topic is enthralling, and Barnhart deserves credit for making it both understandable and showing why a listener should care.
At a fundamental level, I knew about Clovis and Folsum artifacts, about the Hopewell and Mississippian cultures, about the Pueblo monuments in Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, and about the northeast woodland nations that were still in existence at European contact. I didn't have any idea how these cultures evolved, what the relationship was among them, and even how they fit together in any sort of historical order. Barnhart makes that all clear (or at least as clear as the archaeological record allows), and goes beyond that to explain how this experience illuminates the way that pressures from climate and war, and innovations to exploit opportunities, drive rise, change, and abandonment of patterns of civilization. Heady stuff, credibly told.
I really have no complaints, but one scope warning: while the scope of this story is amazing, and well organized, the term North America implied to me covering the Mexican civilizations and the First Nations of the far North in Canada and Alaska. That is not the case, with the justification for the focus being on how little those two areas influence directly the life of the Native American cultures in the area now known mainly as USA. He makes the case clearly (like arguing that DNA evidence tells us that the corn made the journey from Mexico, but, at least in terms of migrations and interbreeding, the MesoAmericans did not.) I don't think that is is an unreasonable argument, but one should know before starting that those cultures are mainly outside his lecture scope.
In some ways that makes his accomplishment more interesting. When I first heard "civilizations of North America" I first thought Aztecs and Maya. As Barnhart points out near the beginning, one doesn't think of ancient powerful civilizations north of the Rio Grande. But he made me change my perspective about that. One tool he uses is occasional references to what is happening in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia at the same time as important cultural developments in North America, so that it is clear that for most of the 15,000 years covered in these lectures, North American civilization is right on schedule with the rest of the world. That last 1000 years was really different, of course. But for that discussion, I would turn back to Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.
At a fundamental level, I knew about Clovis and Folsum artifacts, about the Hopewell and Mississippian cultures, about the Pueblo monuments in Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, and about the northeast woodland nations that were still in existence at European contact. I didn't have any idea how these cultures evolved, what the relationship was among them, and even how they fit together in any sort of historical order. Barnhart makes that all clear (or at least as clear as the archaeological record allows), and goes beyond that to explain how this experience illuminates the way that pressures from climate and war, and innovations to exploit opportunities, drive rise, change, and abandonment of patterns of civilization. Heady stuff, credibly told.
I really have no complaints, but one scope warning: while the scope of this story is amazing, and well organized, the term North America implied to me covering the Mexican civilizations and the First Nations of the far North in Canada and Alaska. That is not the case, with the justification for the focus being on how little those two areas influence directly the life of the Native American cultures in the area now known mainly as USA. He makes the case clearly (like arguing that DNA evidence tells us that the corn made the journey from Mexico, but, at least in terms of migrations and interbreeding, the MesoAmericans did not.) I don't think that is is an unreasonable argument, but one should know before starting that those cultures are mainly outside his lecture scope.
In some ways that makes his accomplishment more interesting. When I first heard "civilizations of North America" I first thought Aztecs and Maya. As Barnhart points out near the beginning, one doesn't think of ancient powerful civilizations north of the Rio Grande. But he made me change my perspective about that. One tool he uses is occasional references to what is happening in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia at the same time as important cultural developments in North America, so that it is clear that for most of the 15,000 years covered in these lectures, North American civilization is right on schedule with the rest of the world. That last 1000 years was really different, of course. But for that discussion, I would turn back to Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.
November 14, 2020
A Review of the Audiobook
Published in 2018 by The Great Courses.
Lectures by Edwin Barnhart.
Duration: 12 hours, 19 minutes.
Unabridged.
The idea behind The Great Courses is a simple one - take a college lecture course given by an expert that knows how to give an interesting lecture and package it up as an audiobook that any can listen to.
Edwin Barnhart is an archaeologist working out of University of Texas - Austin. This course is the completion of a trilogy of courses on Native American civilizations (South America, Mesoamerica, North America). Barnhart's area of true expertise is Mesoamerica, but he has a wealth of practical experience on digs throughout the Southwest. He also clear has a love for the various mound builder civilizations that arose in North America.
Barnhart takes both chronological and regional approach to this history. The early history section generally is chronological because it is the most unclear. It is also the most technical section of the book, with long discussions of the pros and cons of various techniques to date artifacts. This part was pretty dry, to be honest.
The rest of the book moves from one region of the country to the next looking at the distinctive features and accomplishment of the various peoples. That part was very interesting to me. I have been to a few of them (most recently, Cahokia) and took a few notes of some great sites that I had never heard of.
This is my fourth or fifth Great Courses audiobook. It was the first one where I felt that the presenter was actually presenting for a video course rather than an audio course. I kept thinking that I was missing some slides or visual aides as he was speaking. Turns out, this course is also available on DVD and streaming video. I enjoyed the audio presentation, but it might be better as a video.
I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.
Published in 2018 by The Great Courses.
Lectures by Edwin Barnhart.
Duration: 12 hours, 19 minutes.
Unabridged.
The idea behind The Great Courses is a simple one - take a college lecture course given by an expert that knows how to give an interesting lecture and package it up as an audiobook that any can listen to.
Edwin Barnhart is an archaeologist working out of University of Texas - Austin. This course is the completion of a trilogy of courses on Native American civilizations (South America, Mesoamerica, North America). Barnhart's area of true expertise is Mesoamerica, but he has a wealth of practical experience on digs throughout the Southwest. He also clear has a love for the various mound builder civilizations that arose in North America.
Barnhart takes both chronological and regional approach to this history. The early history section generally is chronological because it is the most unclear. It is also the most technical section of the book, with long discussions of the pros and cons of various techniques to date artifacts. This part was pretty dry, to be honest.
The rest of the book moves from one region of the country to the next looking at the distinctive features and accomplishment of the various peoples. That part was very interesting to me. I have been to a few of them (most recently, Cahokia) and took a few notes of some great sites that I had never heard of.
This is my fourth or fifth Great Courses audiobook. It was the first one where I felt that the presenter was actually presenting for a video course rather than an audio course. I kept thinking that I was missing some slides or visual aides as he was speaking. Turns out, this course is also available on DVD and streaming video. I enjoyed the audio presentation, but it might be better as a video.
I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.
June 30, 2021
Genuinely very interesting. I had a good time learning about the ancient history of North America, the different peoples who lived there, the type of civilisations they built. There's a lot of things that people don't know or just assume about Native American people and culture, what they did and didn't do, and it was nice to see some of those myths being busted. The writer (lecturer? professor?) isn't Native himself but was very respectful, and on multiple occasions stressed that the descendants of these people are still alive today and deserve respect and support in preserving their culture and some of these various sites. He also stresses the importance of valuing the wants of living people over the need to study their ancestors/artefacts; something that a lot more archaeologists should keep in mind.
He told this in a really conversational and light tone; there was a lot of dense information, but most of the time it was easy to parse. He sprinkled in a few jokes and personal anecdotes. It really did remind me of being back in university. Unfortunately, like in university, I'd find my mind wandering a lot, and while I had the capacity to rewind and get what I missed, I often didn't? Not a reflection on the topics or the lecturer; just me, and the way I prefer to learn. I kind of wished a physical version existed so I could read along, but I understand why it doesn't. (ETA: lmao I'm an idiot. There is an accompanying PDF. 🤦🏿♀️)
But I wouldn't mind re-listening to this one day; it's the type of thing that's suited to listening while exercising or doing chores. And it's something I'd love to continue learning about.
He told this in a really conversational and light tone; there was a lot of dense information, but most of the time it was easy to parse. He sprinkled in a few jokes and personal anecdotes. It really did remind me of being back in university. Unfortunately, like in university, I'd find my mind wandering a lot, and while I had the capacity to rewind and get what I missed, I often didn't? Not a reflection on the topics or the lecturer; just me, and the way I prefer to learn. I kind of wished a physical version existed so I could read along, but I understand why it doesn't. (ETA: lmao I'm an idiot. There is an accompanying PDF. 🤦🏿♀️)
But I wouldn't mind re-listening to this one day; it's the type of thing that's suited to listening while exercising or doing chores. And it's something I'd love to continue learning about.
February 4, 2019
This course had the unique qualities of being very interesting, enjoyable and educational. I found it very difficult to put down as Barnhart segued from one period and part of North America to another, tying them together as he went.
The style is conversational rather than didactic, avoiding the catalogues of dates, names and places, yet describing the origins, influences, and behaviors of each group of people as they occupied each time and place.
The big takeaway for me was his description of the intertwined roles of archaeology, ethnography and archaeoastronomy in determining the characteristics of daily life and culture of peoples living in North America from 13000BCE onward to the contact with Europeans in 1700CE.
I’ve had no real education in Archaeology and always thought it was a fairly dull study of bones and pottery shards, occasionally enlivened by a King Tut Curse or treasure hunting story. This course brought the field to life and had the additional virtue of illuminating the rich history of These First Peoples of America.
The complex, sophisticated cultures existing thousands of years ago are a vitally important and tragically underappreciated part of our history. The reasons why they lived, worshipped, and created the way they did has much to teach us even in our “non-primitive” hi-tech world and should not be ignored.
This is a long course filled with a lot of data but it is presented in a way that can be understood and appreciated by a layman. It is well worth the time. Barnhart’s conversational style makes it a pleasant
journey.
The style is conversational rather than didactic, avoiding the catalogues of dates, names and places, yet describing the origins, influences, and behaviors of each group of people as they occupied each time and place.
The big takeaway for me was his description of the intertwined roles of archaeology, ethnography and archaeoastronomy in determining the characteristics of daily life and culture of peoples living in North America from 13000BCE onward to the contact with Europeans in 1700CE.
I’ve had no real education in Archaeology and always thought it was a fairly dull study of bones and pottery shards, occasionally enlivened by a King Tut Curse or treasure hunting story. This course brought the field to life and had the additional virtue of illuminating the rich history of These First Peoples of America.
The complex, sophisticated cultures existing thousands of years ago are a vitally important and tragically underappreciated part of our history. The reasons why they lived, worshipped, and created the way they did has much to teach us even in our “non-primitive” hi-tech world and should not be ignored.
This is a long course filled with a lot of data but it is presented in a way that can be understood and appreciated by a layman. It is well worth the time. Barnhart’s conversational style makes it a pleasant
journey.
April 7, 2022
One of the reasons I keep my audible subscription is the access to the great courses plus [now Wondrium] cataloge!
As I was searching for my next book while on my archeological history binge, this was suggested to me via good reads. Since it was already included in my audible subscription, I thought why not?
This course covers various Civilizations in North America, up until they meet the Pilgrims. It was a really interesting lecture, sharing alot of information about trade routes, religion, and engineering in ancient north America.
There were a variety of technology and techniques referenced in this, to assesrt the lectures claims. It's interesting to see the same things pop up throughout the various books on archeology.
This lecture I felt was very respectful to the indiginous people, and was very respectful of the right to say no to have archeologists investigate burial sights. It was also very conscientious of its wording.
I felt like this lecture series was a great way to learn about the ancient civilizations of North America. I had some knowledge a head of time, but this really cemented the foundation of knowledge I have.
Listening to this, I actually realized I had had part of this information for when the podcast Astonishing Legends covered giants!
As I was searching for my next book while on my archeological history binge, this was suggested to me via good reads. Since it was already included in my audible subscription, I thought why not?
This course covers various Civilizations in North America, up until they meet the Pilgrims. It was a really interesting lecture, sharing alot of information about trade routes, religion, and engineering in ancient north America.
There were a variety of technology and techniques referenced in this, to assesrt the lectures claims. It's interesting to see the same things pop up throughout the various books on archeology.
This lecture I felt was very respectful to the indiginous people, and was very respectful of the right to say no to have archeologists investigate burial sights. It was also very conscientious of its wording.
I felt like this lecture series was a great way to learn about the ancient civilizations of North America. I had some knowledge a head of time, but this really cemented the foundation of knowledge I have.
Listening to this, I actually realized I had had part of this information for when the podcast Astonishing Legends covered giants!
November 21, 2018
OK...the '4' rating is solely based on the lack of timelines and genetic 'root' diagrams (how the different thousands of subgroups of haplogroups are related to each other, and, importantly, to Meso- and South American subgroups) in the guidebook. Picky, I know, but in this otherwise excellent introductory course on the development of civilizations in North America I wonder about divergence of groups going back as far as 30K YBP. Was this the initial migratory pulse, and to what extent did this migration extend.
This is an eye-opening course delivered clearly and in an organized fashion by Dr Barnhart. For me, it will provide a basis for visiting sites throughout the US, comparing the styles of the archeological materials recovered with those that I have seen both in the SW US as well as limited visits to South America.
I regret, somewhat, not purchasing the video version since I think it might have given me more perspective on the scope of these diverse archeological sites. I know I will revisit each lecture as the road trip develops...what a great introduction!
Sale...coupon, you know the drill!
This is an eye-opening course delivered clearly and in an organized fashion by Dr Barnhart. For me, it will provide a basis for visiting sites throughout the US, comparing the styles of the archeological materials recovered with those that I have seen both in the SW US as well as limited visits to South America.
I regret, somewhat, not purchasing the video version since I think it might have given me more perspective on the scope of these diverse archeological sites. I know I will revisit each lecture as the road trip develops...what a great introduction!
Sale...coupon, you know the drill!
October 2, 2020
Before reading this book, I had a pretty good idea of what life was like in North America before the coming of the Europeans, but Edwin Barnhart’s Great Courses book showed me that my image was a rough pencil sketch by comparison to the truth. In fact, Barnhart’s book often shocked me by making very vivid comparisons to the development of human life in other parts of the world at the same time. The country was more heavily populated than I had realized with many cultures demonstrating amazing architectural skills and astronomical learning. The trade networks were also far more expansive than I had realized.
The two things that stood out most strongly to me were Barnhart’s descriptions of complex hunter-gatherer societies on the west coast—a term I had not heard before that showed how truly bountiful territory can produce a very different and sustainable lifestyle. And DeSoto’s trek through the southern portion of North America, raping, pillaging, and murdering those who had greeted him with friendship so that he so destabilized that part of the continent so severely that the civilization he had plundered collapsed.
This is a fascinating set of lectures.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
The two things that stood out most strongly to me were Barnhart’s descriptions of complex hunter-gatherer societies on the west coast—a term I had not heard before that showed how truly bountiful territory can produce a very different and sustainable lifestyle. And DeSoto’s trek through the southern portion of North America, raping, pillaging, and murdering those who had greeted him with friendship so that he so destabilized that part of the continent so severely that the civilization he had plundered collapsed.
This is a fascinating set of lectures.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
May 8, 2019
(Audible)
Well thought out lectures on the ancient civilizations of North America. Includes help with terminology, time frame, archaeological tools, and current theories.
I have a much better understanding of the scope of civilizations that were here long before Columbus. Learning how archaeologists excavate and date settlements, buildings and structures was fascinating.
The long periods of use of some hunting sites, cities and settlements was eye opening. It was also interesting to learn how food supply, food security, climate change and access to water impacted great civilizations.
RECOMMEND
Well thought out lectures on the ancient civilizations of North America. Includes help with terminology, time frame, archaeological tools, and current theories.
I have a much better understanding of the scope of civilizations that were here long before Columbus. Learning how archaeologists excavate and date settlements, buildings and structures was fascinating.
The long periods of use of some hunting sites, cities and settlements was eye opening. It was also interesting to learn how food supply, food security, climate change and access to water impacted great civilizations.
RECOMMEND
February 8, 2022
I found this to not only be educational, filled with accurate information, but also contains fun personalized moments that really make it come home for me. I remembered family vacations to where we visited some of these locations and to learn more about the culture as an adult gives me greater appreciation for what I saw as a child. I do plan to read more of Edwin Barnhart's lecture series. I really appreciated how he would mention the old way of referencing anything, and then explaining how the native descendants that remains from an area would prefer things to be referenced. Therefore from that point on it would be referenced appropriately with respect to the living descendants of any culture. This was always honored in a very beautiful way, that I appreciated. Very enjoyable read.
April 13, 2019
It is amazing how much we can know about people groups by studying ruins. But what is more fascinating is what we can’t know. There are thousands of years of history of civilizations in North America and we don’t know their stories! We see the structures they left behind, but know so little about what they thought, believed, and achieved!
September 8, 2021
I really enjoyed listening to this lecture series about the ancient indigenous peoples of North America. While it mostly covers the US, there are some mentions of Canadian peoples too. I especially appreciated that the lecturer stated up front the ways which he (and the field of archeology in general) is working with and honoring requests of the modern Indigenous and First Nations peoples who are modern descendants of the ancient peoples they are studying.
August 3, 2018
Really fascinating stuff.
I had no idea north American civilization was so far reaching and complex.
I had no idea north American civilization was so far reaching and complex.
June 5, 2019
So interesting- I'm surprised (although not really) that I didn't really know any of this, and I'd love to read in more depth about some of these cultures.
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