Pre-Columbian civilizations: Quick Facts

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Map showing principal sites of Meso-American civilization, with the Mayan zone of influence shaded in green across southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. The map highlights major Mayan, Aztec, and other ancient sites, as well as the extent of the Aztec Empire in central Mexico, using color-coded symbols and labels for notable cities and archaeological locations.

Olmec colossal basalt head

Olmec stone sculpture known as the Altar of the Children, featuring a carved figure emerging from a niche, displayed outdoors at the La Venta Museum in Villahermosa, Mexico.

Monte Albán: danzante sculpture

ceramic vessel in the shape of a shark

Maya ruins at Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal, Guatemala: North Acropolis

Exploring the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá

Hear about Chuno, a traditional Andean freeze-dried potato dish, also the effect of climate change on the drying process of the food

Francisco Pizarro's Ruthless Quest for El Dorado

The Significance of Gold in Inca Civilization

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Andean civilization Aztec Maya Inca Mesoamerican civilization Moche Olmec Chimú Mixtec Chavín Islamic world history of Europe ancient Rome ancient Greek civilization Czechoslovak history Native American Aegean civilizations Stone Age history of Mesopotamia history of Latin America

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Temple ruins of columns and statures at Karnak, Egypt (Egyptian architecture; Egyptian archaelogy; Egyptian history)

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