This week we return to the Americas to explore a variety of civilizations from North America, Mesoamerica, and South America. We'll be focused on the period from 500-1500 CE. It's important to recognize that there is are some difficulties with ascertaining knowledge of these societies. Two key weaknesses of the historical record are: limited written sources from non-European perspectives (thus inherent European bias) and frequent misinterpretation of Native American beliefs and practices.

Course Documents: Our course documents this week include a visual primary source and a segment of a letter written by the Spanish Conquistador, Hernan Cortés. The also include three secondary sources. These visual and text based sources explore one of the most misinterpreted and hyper exaggerated parts of Mesamerican life: blood offerings through the form of human sacrifice and blood letting.

Primary source: Mayan Relief "Lintel 24"

Primary source: Hernan Cortés, "Letter to Charles V, "1520

Secondary sources:

"Aztec Sacrifice," Ancient History Encyclopedia

"Maya Religion," Ancient History Encyclopedia

Penn Museum, "Maya 2012"