Native Americans before 1492: the moundbuilding centers of the eastern woodlands

The pre-Columbian culture of the Mississippi woodlands has received surprisingly little attention from historians.

Studying this culture, which was in many respects highly advanced, opens an entirely new perspective on what we are used to thinking of as ""American"" history.

This essay by a distinguished historian and teacher is aimed at world history classes and other classes that cover the Americas before the arrival of the Europeans.