Native American Culture

The Inca Empire, which flourished in modern day Peru and along the west coast of South America, was the largest Native American empire in pre-Columbian America until Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadors conquered them in the 16th century. What ultimately sealed their doom was the rumor that huge amounts of gold were available in regions south of the Andes Mountains.

Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico's cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed.

Not all Norse explorers are human in this collection. Jomungander, the Midgard Serpent, has his own Vinland Saga when he hunts his prey in the deep sea and ends up fighting for his life on Turtle Island against a clan of Haudenosaunee Monster Snakes. Ymirling the Jotun must defeat the mighty Shingebiss to win land for himself in Vinland. Who will be the victor in these culture clashes?

Before my family lived in this house, a different family did, and before them, another family, and another before them. And before that, the family lived here, not in a house, but a wigwam. Who lived where you are before you got there? This Land teaches listeners that American land, from our backyards to our schools to Disney World, are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations. This Land will spark curiosity and encourage readers to explore the history of the places they live and the people who have lived there throughout time and today.

Es una pena ver a una nación tan brillante de personas asesinadas por nuestros antepasados sobre la codicia, el odio y la intolerancia por la sabiduría y la manera de como vivían los nativos americanos. A pesar de lo que las escuelas públicas enseñaban a nuestros hijos, los nativos americanos no eran los "salvajes", como aprendimos en la escuela.

Overall, A Moccasin on One Foot and a Shoe on the Other: Being Native American in the 21st Century serves as a valuable guidebook for teenage listeners, promoting cultural understanding, challenging misconceptions, and empowering Native American youth to navigate their identity with pride in the 21st century.

From the moment Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes first found and confronted them, the Aztecs have fascinated the world, and they continue to hold a unique place both culturally and in pop culture. Ironically, and unlike the Mayans, the Aztecs are not widely viewed or remembered with nuance, in part because their own leader burned extant Aztec writings. The World's Greatest Civilizations: The History and Culture of the Aztecs attempts to portray the Aztecs as they actually were.

In 2012 especially there was a renewed focus on the Mayans, whose advanced calendar led many to speculate the world would end on the same date the Mayan calendar ends. The focus on the doomsday scenario, however, has overshadowed the Mayans' true contributions to astronomy, language, sports, and art.

Quando si pensa alle antiche civiltà del continente americano, come quella maya o azteca, si è soliti associarle a immagini di piramidi immerse nella foresta; difficilmente si pensa a come si nutrivano. Se in genere si fatica a riconoscere l’origine americana di molti cibi della nostra tavola, come patate, mais e pomodori, ancor più difficilmente si associano questi cibi alle loro originarie forme di preparazione e alle antiche culture alimentari di cui fecero parte.