Pre-Columbian

__ Pre-Columbian Era  __ The pre-Columbian era includes the history and pre-history of the Americas before there were any significant European influences on the people or land of North and South America. In most cases this term would refer to the time before Christopher Columbus reached America. However, the pre-Columbian era still includes the history of indigenous cultures before they were affected by European society even if that time was centuries after Christopher Columbus arrived (Pre-Columbian). Pre-Columbian societies are usually characterized by permanent or urban settlements, complex architecture, agriculture, and/or a social hierarchy. Some of the first pre-Columbian civilizations fell before Europeans even reach the Americas, while others have survived, in some form, into the contemporary time period (Pre-Columbian). Societies and cultures that have descended from pre-Columbian civilizations still exist today, especially in Central and South America. Traditions and ancient practices of certain pre-Columbian era people are still upheld today. However, those newer societies are a blend of the ancestral, European, and current influences (Pre-Columbian). Home