The History of North America
About 45 minutes outside of Mexico City sits the largest ancient pyramid ever built in the Americas. Once the centerpiece of a sprawling trade empire, the monument to the sun god of Teotihuacan is now a popular tourist attraction, inspiring awe and intrigue from thousands of guests each year. Though its golden age has long […]
Introducing Teotihuacan The history of Teotihuacan stands as a testament to the beauty and complexity of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Flourishing between 200 BCE and 650 CE, Teotihuacan was a massive city nestled in the highlands of central Mexico. As the trading capital of the Valley of Mexico, its influence extended far beyond its borders, shaping the […]
The great “People of the Rubber Country”. That is what the Aztec people of central Mexico called the Olmec as the Spanish Conquistadors disembarked on the shores of Central America. Though they preceded the Aztecs by well over a millennia, the Olmec were held in high regard with much of their culture adopted by the […]
A “Mother Culture” is a precursor civilization that has a profound influence on the societies that came afterward. The art, architecture, societal structure, even religion of almost every civilization on the planet can be traced back to a Mother Culture, and pre-Columbian Central America was no different.
When it comes to Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, one of the most common topics of discussion is human sacrifice. I can tell you from experience that in the conversations I have had (probably less than five but I’d say that’s too many to be a coincidence) the subject is always a crowd favorite. Often the Aztecs and […]
In the rainy jungles of Tabasco, an ancient monument rises up above the tree-line. From afar it appears to be a hill, covered in grass and extremely out of place. Nature has clearly won out and done its best to conceal what remains of the site. Today, you would never know that some three-thousand years […]
Deep in the Olmec heartland of central Mexico reside 17 stones that seem a bit out of place. These stones – boulders rather – are portraits from a bygone era, moved hundreds of miles from their place of origin in the Tuxtla Mountains. Their ‘new’ home is that of the Central American jungle, a land […]
Origins As you push your way through the thick Central American jungle, countless beads of sweat run across your forehead. It is hot. Stupid hot. The heat and humidity this time of year are no joke. Of course, the weather isn’t the only cause for concern. Jungle cats, venomous snakes, and the occasional hostile tribe […]
Pirates. Since the beginning of human history, or at least since humans invented boats, Pirates have terrorized the seven seas. As far back as the ancient Sea People of the Mediterranean (SUPER interesting people I would absolutely recommend reading about them) to the Pirates off the coast of modern-day Somalia, these sea raiders have had […]
First Contact “Land!” That blessed four-letter word rattles you awake in the middle of the night. For a moment you wonder if this is a dream. Have you really found it? The Atlantic trade route to Asia? The scurry of your fellow sailors quickly puts any notion of a dream out of your mind as […]