Course Syllabus

These were civilizations like no other--and there has been nothing like them since. Creating horrifying methods of human sacrifice, public sports from which modern soccer, football, and basketball eventually developed, and some of history's greatest monuments, these civilizations will never be forgotten. The Inca--rulers of the Andes; the Mayans--geniuses of Central America, and the Aztecs--brutal tyrants of Mexico. These are societies that blew the minds of those who first discovered them, then shriveled away under the stress of disease and opportunistic foreign empires.

Take a journey with us into the time before Columbus discovered the Americas, when mystical and magnificent kingdoms worshipped gods unlike those thought up by any other civilization. Learn about the bizarre rituals, strange deities, and sometimes shocking uses of religion this trio of civilizations employed to gain control over their continents. These are some of the best untold stories in human history--what happens when a portion of humanity splits off to form itself, moves a world away, and develops for thousands of years. Excitement, mysteries, and gut-wrenching realities abound.

This course is perfect for those looking to learn more about the ancient culture of Latin America before travel, for determining your interest or brushing up on archaeology, for the adventurous, and the studious. This is a world unlike anything you've ever known, cutting through the shroud of mystery to give you the facts about one of most important eras in human history. The role of Pre-Columbian mythology shaped an entire world, and learning about it may reshape yours!