What’s the Significance?
Meroë, 265–67
Axum, 267–70
Piye, 268–69
Chavín, 278–79
Moche, 279–81
Wari and Tiwanaku, 281–82
Niger Valley civilization, 270–72
Maya civilization, 273–75
Teotihuacán, 275–77
Bantu expansion, 282–85
Chaco Phenomenon, 286–88
Mound Builders/Cahokia, 288–89
Big Picture Questions
Next Steps: For Further Study
Richard E. W. Adams, Ancient Civilizations of the New World (1997). A broad survey based on current scholarship of the Americas before Columbus.
Christopher Ehret, The Civilizations of Africa (2002). A recent overview of African history before 1800 by a prominent scholar.
Brian M. Fagan, Ancient North America (2005). A prominent archeologist’s account of North American history.
Eric Gilbert and Jonathan T. Reynolds, Africa in World History (2004). An accessible account of African history set in a global context.
Guy Gugliotta, “The Maya: Glory and Ruin,” National Geographic (August 2007). A beautifully illustrated account of the rise and fall of Maya civilization.
Charles Mann, 1491 (2005). A journalist’s thoughtful account, delightfully written, of the controversies surrounding the history of the Americas before 1492.
Ancient Africa’s Black Kingdoms, http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/ancientafrica.html. A Web site exploring the history of Nubia.
Maya Adventure, http://www.smm.org/sln/ma. A collection of text and pictures about the Maya, past and present.