OSHER 233 - America Before Columbus

This course will explore the indigenous cultures of the original inhabitants who settled the expanse of the United States before the arrival of Columbus. The class will introduce civilizations that thrived long before Columbus landed and who left behind monuments and art to mark their existence. Among the subjects to be discussed: migrations into North America, early civilizations and the construction of large communities before the arrival of Europeans, and the interaction between ancient Mexican and southern cultures.