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Maya to Aztec: Ancient Mesoamerica Revealed

Season 1
Uncover the fascinating rise and fall of the Maya and Aztec civilizations-spectacular empires with complex cultures that ruled vast stretches of pre-Columbian America. In this comprehensive course taught by the Director of the Maya Exploration Center, you'll witness the enthralling history of these sophisticated societies as you explore their religions, governments, social organizations, and more.
201548 episodesTV-PG
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - The Maya, Aztecs, and Mesoamerica
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Survey the geography, cultures, and time span covered in these 48 lectures. Dr. Barnhart discusses the organization of the course and key concepts. Then he takes you on a whirlwind tour of important places, civilizations, and events in Mesoamerica.#History
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  2. S1 E2 - Olmec Civilization Emerges
    March 5, 2015
    32min
    TV-PG
    Begin with the Olmecs at the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. Flourishing from about 1700 BC to 300 BC, the Olmecs represent one of only six cradles of early civilization in world history. Hear how they were discovered, and investigate three sites where they lived.
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  3. S1 E3 - Olmec Art as the Mother Culture
    March 5, 2015
    28min
    TV-PG
    Delve into Olmec art, searching for clues to who the Olmec were and what preoccupied these builders of Mesoamerica's first great civilization. Explore the mysteries of giant sculpted heads, jaguar carvings, and full-bearded figures depicting men who some think were foreigners from afar.
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  4. S1 E4 - Olmec Contemporaries
    March 5, 2015
    33min
    TV-PG
    Investigate other cultures that thrived in Mesoamerica at the time of the Olmecs, such as the Zapotecs in the Valley of Oaxaca. Probe intriguing archeological evidence, including artifacts similar to those from Olmec culture, which raise the question of who influenced whom.
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  5. S1 E5 - Mesoamerican Plants, Cuisine, and Medicine
    March 5, 2015
    34min
    TV-PG
    Learn about the botany of Mesoamerica and how it benefited not just the people of the region but eventually the entire world. From corn and chocolate to vanilla, chili peppers, rubber trees, and other products, the native vegetation has had a profound impact on global diet and culture.
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  6. S1 E6 - Early Highland Maya - Izapa to Kaminaljuyu
    March 5, 2015
    30min
    TV-PG
    Trace the origin of Maya civilization to a dramatic change in the nature of public monuments. Dr. Barnhart takes you to early Maya highland cities such as Izapa, with its amazing religious carvings, and Kaminaljuyu, which heralded the dawn of the Classic Maya period.
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  7. S1 E7 - Preclassic Maya Lowlands - El Mirador
    March 5, 2015
    30min
    TV-PG
    Travel to the Petén rainforest in northern Guatemala, where hundreds of Maya settlements lie hidden, including some of the oldest Maya cities ever built. Among the spectacular sites, hear about the discovery and excavation of El Mirador, called the "cradle of Maya civilization."
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  8. S1 E8 - The Popol Vuh - Creation and Hero Twins
    March 5, 2015
    33min
    TV-PG
    In 1701 a Spanish priest fluent in Mayan translated a secret copy of the ancient Maya story of creation, the Popol Vuh. The original has long since disappeared, but the translation survives. Hear this magical story in captivating detail.
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  9. S1 E9 - The Great City of Teotihuacan
    March 5, 2015
    28min
    TV-PG
    At its height around 400 AD, Teotihuacan was the most populous city in the western hemisphere. Explore this vibrant metropolis, focusing on its still-extant pyramids of the Sun and Moon and the role they played in the violent ritual life of the Classic Maya period.
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  10. S1 E10 - How the Maya Mastered Mathematics
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Study the power of Maya mathematics, which was a positional, base-twenty system that lent itself easily to calculation and the expression of very large numbers. Learn about its use of the zero placeholder, and test your skills solving problems the way the Maya did.
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  11. S1 E11 - The World's Most Elaborate Calendar
    March 5, 2015
    33min
    TV-PG
    Unlock the secrets of the Maya calendar, which was unlike any other in the world - with nested cycles of time keyed to human, seasonal, and astronomical patterns. Look back to their year zero and the special importance of the number 1,195,640.
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  12. S1 E12 - Tikal - Aspiring Capital of the Maya World
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Chart the rise and fall of Tikal, one of the great Maya cities until it was mysteriously abandoned around 900 AD. Overgrown by jungle, it sat forgotten for a thousand years. Hear about Tikal's tumultuous history and its dramatic rediscovery.
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  13. S1 E13 - Maya Hieroglyphs - Breaking the Code
    March 5, 2015
    32min
    TV-PG
    Maya hieroglyphs are a beautiful and elaborate writing system, bearing messages that were almost a complete mystery until recent decades. Dr. Barnhart describes the detective work that went into deciphering the script and his own studies with pioneer code-breaker Linda Schele.
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  14. S1 E14 - Maya Astronomy and Building Orientations
    March 5, 2015
    32min
    TV-PG
    The Maya were expert sky observers. Discover that many of their buildings are oriented to view the rising and setting of celestial bodies, and still others are designed to interact with sunlight, creating tricks of light and shadows. Consider what these alignments may have signified.
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  15. S1 E15 - The Dresden Codex
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Only four ancient Maya books have survived to modern times. Study the most fascinating of these: the Dresden Codex. Focus on its complex calculations of the motions of Venus and the timing of solar eclipses. Also turn to its pages on divination, which defied understanding until Dr. Barnhart contributed a key insight.
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  16. S1 E16 - Palenque - Jewel in the West
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Descend down the secret steps of a Maya pyramid to discover the tomb of Pakal the Great, the most renowned ruler of the city of Palenque. Trace the history of Palenque, which during the 7th century AD excelled in architectural sophistication, hieroglyphic inscriptions, and astronomical knowledge.
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  17. S1 E17 - Sacred Geometry in Art and Architecture
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    The Maya had no known unit of linear measure, yet their art and architecture reflect a sophisticated understanding of geometry. Investigate the geometric ratios that the Maya used over and over. Discover how these relate to nature and the practices of other ancient civilizations.
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  18. S1 E18 - Illuminating Works of Maya Art
    March 5, 2015
    29min
    TV-PG
    Learn about Maya life through their art, studying such works as the fantastic painted murals at Bonampak and the famous sarcophagus lid on the tomb of Pakal. According to a best-selling book, the latter depicts an ancient astronaut on a rocket ship, but Dr. Barnhart decodes its real meaning.
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  19. S1 E19 - Copan - Jungle Dynasty of the East
    March 5, 2015
    33min
    TV-PG
    Visit Copan, a beautifully preserved city on the edge of the Maya world. This illustrious site has been continuously excavated since the 19th century, and Dr. Barnhart himself did fieldwork helping to unearth tombs of the city's most notable rulers.
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  20. S1 E20 - Calakmul - The Mighty Snake Kingdom
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Maya hieroglyphs tell of a mysterious Snake Kingdom, which long eluded archaeologists. We now know that this powerful city was Calakmul, located in the Petén rainforest of southern Mexico. Learn its long history of warfare with its militant neighbors.
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  21. S1 E21 - The Mesoamerican Ball Game
    March 5, 2015
    29min
    TV-PG
    Created 3,500 years ago and still played today, the Mesoamerican ball game was the New World's first organized team sport. More than just a game, it reenacted mythology, symbolized war, and pleased the gods. Investigate where it was played, along with its rules and variations.
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  22. S1 E22 - Enigmatic West Mexico and Shaft Tombs
    March 5, 2015
    31min
    TV-PG
    Survey the cultures that flourished in west Mexico at the time of the Maya. Their distinctive shaft tombs, pottery, metalwork, and other artifacts have intriguing links to South America. Also see how today's Voladores "flying" traditional dance originated centuries ago in this region.
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  23. S1 E23 - Classic Maya Collapse - Cities Abandoned!
    March 5, 2015
    28min
    TV-PG
    One of history's unsolved mysteries is why many Maya cities were abandoned in the 9th century AD, bringing an end to the Classic period. Examine theories that trace this collapse to war, drought, environmental damage, or volcanic eruption. Then hear Dr. Barnhart's solution to the puzzle.
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  24. S1 E24 - New Cities of the Terminal Classic - Uxmal
    March 5, 2015
    28min
    TV-PG
    From 800 to 1000 AD, the Maya region went through a transitional phase known as the Terminal Classic. Study the changes that emerged in new Maya cities, which saw innovations in government, religion, art, and architecture. Focus on the remarkable city of Uxmal.
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  25. S1 E25 - Monte Alban and Zapotec Rule over Oaxaca
    March 5, 2015
    30min
    TV-PG
    Journey to Oaxaca to explore Monte Alban, one of the most beautiful ruins in all of Mesoamerica. Chart the city plan, monuments, and art of this hilltop center of Zapotec civilization, which dominated the Valley of Oaxaca for over a thousand years.
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Subtitles
None available
Producers
The Great Courses
Cast
Edwin Barnhart
Studio
The Great Courses
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