The Americas before 1492

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the cultures and civilizations of the Americas prior to the period of sustained European contact. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will examine how the American continents were peopled and how different groups developed in terms of society, culture, religion, politics, and economy. The course will emphasize material culture by looking at and learning to interpret a wide array of material sources, including archaeological sites, artifacts, buildings, landscapes, and many types of symbolic expression.