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Episodes
- S1 E1 - The Maya, Aztecs, and MesoamericaMarch 5, 201531minSurvey 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.#HistoryFree trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E2 - Olmec Civilization EmergesMarch 5, 201532minBegin 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E3 - Olmec Art as the Mother CultureMarch 5, 201528minDelve 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E4 - Olmec ContemporariesMarch 5, 201533minInvestigate 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E5 - Mesoamerican Plants, Cuisine, and MedicineMarch 5, 201534minLearn 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E6 - Early Highland Maya - Izapa to KaminaljuyuMarch 5, 201530minTrace 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E7 - Preclassic Maya Lowlands - El MiradorMarch 5, 201530minTravel 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."Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E8 - The Popol Vuh - Creation and Hero TwinsMarch 5, 201533minIn 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E9 - The Great City of TeotihuacanMarch 5, 201528minAt 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E10 - How the Maya Mastered MathematicsMarch 5, 201531minStudy 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E11 - The World's Most Elaborate CalendarMarch 5, 201533minUnlock 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E12 - Tikal - Aspiring Capital of the Maya WorldMarch 5, 201531minChart 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E13 - Maya Hieroglyphs - Breaking the CodeMarch 5, 201532minMaya 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E14 - Maya Astronomy and Building OrientationsMarch 5, 201532minThe 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E15 - The Dresden CodexMarch 5, 201531minOnly 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E16 - Palenque - Jewel in the WestMarch 5, 201531minDescend 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E17 - Sacred Geometry in Art and ArchitectureMarch 5, 201531minThe 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E18 - Illuminating Works of Maya ArtMarch 5, 201529minLearn 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E19 - Copan - Jungle Dynasty of the EastMarch 5, 201533minVisit 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E20 - Calakmul - The Mighty Snake KingdomMarch 5, 201531minMaya 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E21 - The Mesoamerican Ball GameMarch 5, 201529minCreated 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E22 - Enigmatic West Mexico and Shaft TombsMarch 5, 201531minSurvey 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E23 - Classic Maya Collapse - Cities Abandoned!March 5, 201528minOne 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E24 - New Cities of the Terminal Classic - UxmalMarch 5, 201528minFrom 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E25 - Monte Alban and Zapotec Rule over OaxacaMarch 5, 201530minJourney 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.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
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