The Ancient Americas

The Field Museum’s innovative new exhibition, The Ancient Americas tells the story of human life in the Americas, from the arrival of small groups of hunter-gatherers, whose way of life survived into the 20th century, to the great but fragile empires of the Aztec and the Inca, which came to brutal ends with the arrival of Europeans.

This exhibition is a story of change, not progress. Focusing on the types of diverse and complex societies in the Americas before European conquest, The Ancient Americas explores the challenges that human beings everywhere have faced for millennia.

Creativity—the ability to adapt and innovate—has allowed human beings to build unique societies and develop new forms of cultural expression throughout history and around the world. People have different responses to common problems, and as a result, cultures change. This kind of “cultural evolution” isn’t synonymous with progress; it shows that people are problem solvers, and their environment, history, and creativity influence the solutions they develop.

Indigenous peoples were the first humans in the Americas. Our lives have been deeply influenced by their intelligence and creativity. The descendants of these early peoples, today’s Indigenous peoples of the Americas continue to change and contribute to the world around them. This exhibition honors the people who lived before 1500 A.D. and celebrates the diversity of Indigenous peoples in the Americas today.

To learn more about culture and how human societies change, select from the following options:

	The Exhibition’s Importance Find out why the Museum has devoted 19,000 square feet of space to telling the story of cultural change across the American continents and discover what an exhibit about the ancient Americas can tell you about your life today.
	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Get answers to common questions about cultural evolution, anthropology, and archaeology, and examine issues such as stereotyping, discrimination, and more.
	Basics of Society Explore cultural concepts presented within the exhibit and get an overview of anthropological thought on the long-term change of human societies.

Continue to The Exhibition's Importance. >>