1491 the Untold Story of the Americas

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[edit] General Information

Sociopolitical Documentary hosted by Dr. Evan Adams, published by ZDF in 2017 - English narration

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In this groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology, Charles C. Mann radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492. Contrary to what so many Americans learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were huge numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land around them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan had running water and immaculately clean streets, and was larger than any contemporary European city. Mexican cultures created corn in a specialized breeding process that it has been called man's first feat of genetic engineering. Indeed, Indians were not living lightly on the land but were landscaping and manipulating their world in ways that we are only now beginning to understand. Challenging and surprising, this a transformative new look at a rich and fascinating world we only thought we knew.

[edit] Origins

Indigenous creation stories will be explored as well as key discoveries by archaeologists, anthropologists, geneticists and linguists on how and when Indigenous people first arrived in the Western Hemisphere.

[edit] Environment

For thousands of years Indigenous people have caused significant changes to the natural environment through resource harvesting, farming, urban development, irrigation, controlled burning and deforestation.

[edit] Agriculture and Hunting

The Neolithic era began more than 10,000 years ago in Mesoamerica with the cultivation of maize. Crops like sweet potatoes, beans and cacao were cultivated and spread throughout the Americas through trade networks.

[edit] Architecture and Urban Design

Whether living a nomadic existence or in sprawling urban centres, Indigenous people created iconic, innovative and diverse architectural styles. Their homes and community structures fulfilled the needs and values of their society.

[edit] Governance and Trade

Each Indigenous nation developed its own unique governance model to manage their citizens and expand their territories. These systems ranged from patriarchal and matrilineal-based societies to complex political systems governing multi-nation empires. Complex trade networks developed to satisfy political, social and economic goals.

[edit] Science and Technology

The ingenuity, skill and talent of Indigenous people is found in the earliest use of the number "0", the mapping of planets and stars, the development of multi-year calendars and the invention of writing systems.

[edit] Art and Culture

The artistic expressions of Indigenous societies have survived to this day through the preservation of ancient cultural artefacts and in works created by contemporary artists working in traditional styles.

[edit] Continuance

The final episode looks at stewardship of Indigenous history in the 21st century. The episode will explore Indigenous perspectives on cultural material repatriation, language preservation, traditional knowledge and archaeology.