Ancient Americas

The lush coast Pacific Northwest is home to some of North America’s most well-known nations who are renowned for their rich culture. Despite never using agriculture, these nations formed vibrant communities with very complex societies. Discover how these cultures developed over thousands of years.

The Maya Classic period is widely considered the golden age of the ancient Maya and saw incredible achievements in art, architecture and science. Let’s explore what made this time period so brilliant and why the classic period continues to fascinate the scholars and public today.

The lowland Maya left us hundreds of written inscriptions that recount the history of their cities, their kings and their wars. Let's explore this history in the first of three episodes.

Chaco Canyon has excited and baffled archaeologists for over a century. What makes one of the most famous and studied archaeological sites so enigmatic? Find out what made the Chaco Phenomenon such a unique moment in ancient history.

The khipu (quipu) was an indigenous recording device made from knotted cords that were used for many different purposes for centuries. The history of khipus is a fascinating journey through thousands of years of sophistication and refinement. Join us to find out how khipus were used by the Wari and Inca to manage their empires.

The late classic is widely considered the epitome of Maya culture and the history of this period is no less exciting. It was a time full of rises and falls, great kings and kings and conquests and betrayals.

Chocolate has an incredible story from the cacao tree to the chocolate that we love today. Discover chocolate’s long lost Mesoamerican history from its South American origins to its cultivation and rise in Mesoamerica.