Indigenous Hispanic Cultures

Here's the place to begin learning about indigenous cultures, this page linking to a variety of resources on the web about indigenous Hispanic cultures throughout the world. Most of these cultures did not or do not speak standard Castilian Spanish, but many of their languages have had some influence on Spanish vocabulary and they are native to countries where Spanish is spoken today. For photographic resources, please see the Picture It page.

Aztec Calendar, originally uploaded by DelScorchoSauce

Aztecs
The Aztec empire in central Mexico existed from the 13th through the early 16th centuries. Their spoken language was called Nahuatl. The capital of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlán, which today is Mexico City. The Aztecs were one of the three largest pre-Columbian civilizations of Central/South America. Although the Aztec empire fell after being conquered by the Spaniards, Aztec culture is still alive in much of Mexico today.

• The Ancient Aztecs - A thorough introduction to the culture and history
  
• Aztec Calendar - Learn about the Aztec calendar system!
• In Search of History: The Aztec Empire - A documentary you can watch online!
• Aztecs at Mexicolore - A UK-based organization dedicated to Aztec culture
• Music and Poetry in the Aztec Empire - A great resource for anyone wishing to learn about this subject
  
• Basic Nahuatl - An introduction to the Aztec language
• Life in the Provinces of the Aztec Empire - A story originally printed in Scientific American

Incas
The Inca civilization spans the Western coast of South America. The Inca empire was active in the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the most easily recognizable works of the Incas is the city of Machu Picchu in Perú. The language of the Incas was Quechua.

• Virtual Inca Trail - Take a hike through historical Perú without having to move an inch!
• Mummies of the Inca - A feature on the 1996 expedition in Perú
• Lost Cities of the Inca - A National Geographic documentary you can watch online
• The Incredible Incas for Kids - A great resource for young learners
• Ice Treasures of the Inca - An interactive adventure from National Geographic
• Quechua Language - Learn about the language of the Incas
  

Mayas
The Mayan civilization, one of the earliest indigenous civilizations in Central America, was spread throughout southern Mexico and the Yucatán peninsula, and the rest of Central America. Unlike the Incas and Aztecs, the Mayas had a written language. The most widespread Mayan language is Yucatec.

• Maya Rise & Fall - A National Geographic feature
• Mundo Maya - A site all about Mayan culture and history
• The Maya Ruins Page - An interactive map with information and photos of many sites
• Mayan Hieroglyphic Script - A descriptive introduction to the topic
• Mayan Kids - A great resource for young learners
• Mayan Arithmetic - An introduction to how the Mayans used math
• Mayan Mysteries - Scientists are stumped about how the Mayans used their landscape
  

General Resources - Latin America
There are many indigenous cultures in Latin America besides just the Aztec, Inca, and Maya. These resources may refer to any and all of the Latin American indigenous cultures.

• Ancient Mexico - A beautifully designed site with lots of information and articles
• Latin American Archeological Sites & Cultures - A great introduction to the different cultures
• The Conquistadors - Learn about the Spaniards who conquered Central & South America on this PBS page
• Ancient American Poets - Learn about the poetry of Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas
  

Basques
The basque people lived, and still live today, in Northern Spain and Southern France, in and near the Pyrenées mountains. Some basque people still peak a native basque language, while others speak the local language of their region. There is an autonomous Basque Community in Spain, in which Spanish is spoken along with Basque.

• Ekaitzaldi - A Basque music blog
• On Foot in Spain: Basque Country - Take a walking tour through the Basque country!
• EITB - Basque media resources
• An Online Basque Reader - Links to articles about Basque history and culture