In which John Green kicks off Crash Course US History! Why, you may ask, are we covering US History, and not more World History, or the history of some other country, or the very specific history of your home region? Well, the reasons...

Archaeological evidence from sites like Warm Mineral Springs and Useppa Island shows that early inhabitants of Southwest Florida, including the Calusa ancestors, relied heavily on marine resources as early as 11,000 years ago. Over time,...

Unlike many indigenous groups, the Calusa were not conquered by European forces but were ultimately undone by shifting geopolitics, British-backed slave raids, disease, and displacement in the early 18th century. While some refugees fled...

Recent research in Brazil has unveiled significant archaeological discoveries, including an ancient megalithic observatory and extensive geoglyphs. These findings suggest that, centuries ago, the Amazon was home to sophisticated...

Monte Albán’s Building L houses many danzantes—stone reliefs long thought to depict dancers but now widely interpreted as representations of sacrifice, with some scholars suggesting alternative meanings like bloodletting rituals. These...

Monte Albán’s early history is marked by rapid growth and aggressive expansion, transforming it into the dominant power in the Valley of Oaxaca by 300 BCE. As it extended control over surrounding regions through conquest and influence,...

Before Monte Albán rose to prominence, San José Mogote was the leading settlement in the Valley of Oaxaca around 1300 BCE. Thanks to advanced irrigation, it grew into the valley’s largest village and an important ceremonial center. Over...

In the late 700s and early 800s, Maya nobles started gaining more power as royal authority began to weaken. At cities like Copán and Yaxchilan, nobles built their own monuments and played bigger roles in government, which had been...

During the late 700s and early 800s, environmental changes began to affect Maya cities. Some of these problems may have been caused by the Maya themselves - deforestation and soil overuse may have led to food shortages and population...

Landscape paintings were HUGE in the early 19th century, and the reason? Well, it's complicated.

Around 200 CE, Monte Albán underwent major political changes marked by the rise of a new elite, internal conflict, and a transformation of its ceremonial core—reflected in the dismantling and reuse of earlier monuments like the danzantes...

How potatoes brought down two Chinese dynasties. An endnote for our Potato video: https://youtu.be/wdPQ8zFUipw Thank you to all our Patreon supporters! Please check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEndlessKnot Endless Knot...

Maize is believed to have first been domesticated and cultivated 9000 years ago in the Central Balsas region of Mexico. Learn about the genetic makeup of maize and its significance for the Mayan Empire. Maize part 1/5