500 Nations
500 Nations | |
---|---|
Genre | Historical documentary |
Created by | Jack Leustig |
Written by | Jack Leustig, |
Narrated by | Gregory Harrison |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
500 Nations is an eight-part American documentary television series that was aired on
The documentary series is based on the eponymous 480-page book by Alvin M. Josephy Jr., published in 1994.[1] The documentary re-aired on Discovery Times in 2006.
Episodes
Episode 1: Wounded Knee Legacy and the Ancestors
The series begins "where our story ends" with eyewitness accounts of Wounded Knee. The Ancestors next offers excerpts from Native American Creation stories, then explores three early North American cultures, including the 800-room Pueblo Bonito in the arid southwest, the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde and Cahokia, the largest city in the U.S. before 1800.[2]
Episode 2: Mexico
A history of the native nations of Mexico from pre-Columbian times, through the period of European contact and colonization, including the rise and fall of the Toltecs and the growth of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire.[2]
Episode 3: Clash of Cultures
As Native nations defy a plundering advance of Spanish expeditions in the Caribbean and what will become the southeastern United States, two undefeatable attacks, muskets and disease, cause thousands of deaths.[2]
Episode 4: Invasion of the Coast
Tensions rise as more foreigners arrive in North America, and affect the lives of native peoples. In Jamestown, the story of the Powhatan princess, Pocahontas, unfolds. Thanksgiving at Plymouth leads to a bloody colonial Indian war in 1675.[2]
Episode 5: Cauldron of War
European powers fought to control American resources, turning native homelands into a Cauldron of War. Many
Episode 6: Removal
Being forced to follow the Trail of Tears displaces Native Americans even though they adopt American ways. Shawnee leader Tecumseh sparks a return to traditional ways but The Indian Removal Act is enforced in 1830. Many stoically accept; others resist.[2]
Episode 7: Roads Across the Plains
Lifestyles of native peoples of the Great Plains end as American settlers destroy huge buffalo herds. Though native leaders pursue peace, they are massacred at Sand Creek. The massacre provokes severe repercussions.[2]
Episode 8: Attack on Culture
Software
Microsoft released an educational computer game based on the documentary, and its "rich multimedia content" also covered the experiences of indigenous people with Europeans in Canada and Alaska.[3]
References
- ISBN 0-679-42930-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Leustig, Jack (2006). "The Documentary Episodes". The 500 NATIONS Encore Venture. Tig Productions Inc. and Katahdin Productions, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ Makris, Steve (February 15, 1996). "A macro-look at native history". Newspapers.com. Edmonton Journal. p. 54. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
External links
- 500 Nations at IMDb
- Official 500 Nations website
- "500 Nations: Stories of the North American Indian Experience". Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- "500 Nations". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The 500 NATIONS Encore Venture. Archived from the original on 2004-10-22. Retrieved 26 November 2018.