Lecture Notes: 500 Nations and the Native American Indian History

Introduction by Kevin Costner

• Settling of North America has been of personal and professional interest.
• Knowledge limited by teaching; misconception that history began with Columbus.
• Aim to recognize the rich pre-Columbian history, 500 nations, 300 languages.
• Use of archives, rare books, manuscripts, and advanced technology to bring history to life.
• Goal: Give First Nations recognition and respect.

The Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee (Late 1800s)

• Ghost Dance: A spiritual movement to restore the past and Indian freedom.
• Context: Desperation from starvation and poor treatment on reservations.
• Wounded Knee Massacre: US military killed many Lakota Sioux, including women and children.
• Narratives: Eyewitness accounts and personal stories of loss and survival.
• Aftermath: Symbol of Indian survival and continued struggles.

Ancient Civilizations Before European Arrival

• Focus Areas: Anasazi, mound builders of the Mississippi, Maya pyramid builders.
• Creation Myths: Different Indian nations' perspectives on creation and their place on Earth.

The Anasazi of the Southwest

• Location: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico (900 AD).
• Innovations: Irrigation, dams, reservoirs, and canals to cultivate desert land.
• Architecture: Subterranean pit houses, above-ground storage houses, Kivas (spiritual places).
• Chaco Canyon: Cultural and economic hub with 400 miles of roads, signal stations, and Pueblo Bonito (800-room complex).
• Decline: Factors like drought, hostilities, and the fall of trading partners.

The Mound Builders of the Mississippi

• Cahokia: Major city near St. Louis, with 20,000 residents, larger than any US city until 1800.
• Society: Farmers, hunters, fishermen, extensive trade networks.
• Notable Structures: Great Sun's royal mound, Great Serpent Mound in Ohio.
• Cultural Practices: Burial mounds, effigy mounds, vibrant trade in materials like copper, obsidian, and shells.

The Maya Civilization

• Explorations: European explorers discovering Palenque and speculating origins.
• Pakal's Tomb: Discovered in Palenque, unlocking Mayan history.
• Mayan Glyphs: Deciphered in the 1980s, revealing true writing and language.
• Pakal's Reign: Led Palenque for nearly 70 years, with major advances in agriculture, art, mathematics, and astronomy.
• Decline: By 800 AD, many capitals were deserted, reclaimed by the jungle.

Conclusion

• The lecture covers a journey through the rich and complex history of the Native American nations before European arrival.
• Emphasis on recognizing and respecting the First Nations' rightful place in history.
• Upcoming explorations into other aspects of ancient Native American civilizations.