500 Nations is an eight-part documentary that explores the history of the indigenous peoples of North and Central America?? from pre-Colombian times through the period of European contact and colonization?? to the end of the 19th century and the subjug</br></br>Product Description</br></br><![CDATA[<p>500 Nations (DVD)</p><p>500 Nations is an eight-part documentary that explores the history of the indigenous peoples of North and Central America?? from pre-Colombia"mes through the period of European contact and colonization?? to the end of the 19th century and the subjugation of the Plains Indians of North America. 500 Nations utilizes historical texts?? eyewitness accounts?? pictorial sources and computer graphic reconstructions to explore the magnificent civilizations which flourished prior to contact with Western civilization?? and to tell the dramatic and tragic story of the Native American nations' desperate attempts to retain their way of life against overwhelming odds.</p>]]></br></br>Amazon.com</br></br>With six episodes spread out over four discs and a running time of well over six hours (in addition to an interactive CD-ROM filled with extra features)?? director-producer Jack Leustig's sprawling <I>500 Nations</I>?? a history of Indians in North America?? is likely the most comprehensive effort of its kind ever undertaken.<p>  Mention the word "" and most will conjure up images inspired by myths and movies: teepees?? headdresses?? and war paint; Sitting Bull?? Geronimo?? Crazy Horse?? and their battles (like Little Big Horn) with the U.S. Cavalry. Those stories of the so-called " nations" of the Great Plains are all here?? but so is a great deal more. Using impressive computer imaging?? photos?? location film footage and breathtaking cinematography?? interviews with present-day Indians?? books and manuscripts?? museum artifacts?? and more?? Leustig and his crew go back more than a millennium to present an fascinating account of Indians?? including those (like the Maya and Aztecs in Mexico and the Anasazi in the Southwest) who were here long before white men ever reached these shores. <p>  It was the arrival of Europeans like Columbus?? Cortez?? and DeSoto that marked the beginning of the end for the Indians. Considering the participation of host Kevin Costner?? whose film <I>Dances with Wolves</I> was highly sympathetic to the Indians?? it's no bulletin that <I>500 Nations</I> also takes a compassionate view of the multitude of calamities--from alcohol and disease to the corruption of their culture and the depletion of their vast natural resources--visited on them by the white