Beyond Maize, Beans, and Squash with Dr. Michael Mathiowetz

Assessments on the nature, degree, and source of Mesoamerican influence on social dynamics of prehispanic societies of northern Mexico and the US Southwest has waxed and waned over the past century. Scholars agree that key domesticated agricultural crops, such as maize from Mesoamerica, served to transform the economic and social lifeways of people in the Southwest, with some considering crops alone to be the most significant southern contribution. However, there remains an ongoing debate on characterizing how the political, religious, economic, and social dynamics of Mesoamerican complex societies impacted and intersected with Southwestern social changes, particularly after AD 900. Was there synchronicity in these connections? Which specific societies in Mesoamerica were involved and why? In this talk, Mathiowetz aims to reorient and sharpen the focus of this debate by identifying a key geographical locale in Mesoamerica that had an outsized role in shaping historical processes of change among various cultures in the US Southwest and northern Mexico. This webinar is part of the Crow Canyon Webinar Series, hosted on Thursdays at 4pm Colorado Mountain Time by Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. These webinars are offered free of charge thanks to the support of generous donors. See what’s coming up at https://crowcanyon.org/archaeology-we.... Stream past webinars from our YouTube channel at    / crowcanyonconnects  . Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is a nonprofit organization located near Mesa Verde in southwest Colorado. Our mission is to empower present and future generations by making the human past accessible and relevant through archaeological research, experiential education, and American Indian knowledge. Learn more about our research, educational programs, and how to support our organization at: www.CrowCanyon.org https://crowcanyon.org/support-us/   / crowcanyonarchaeologicalcenter     / crow_canyon     / crow_canyon     / crow-canyon-archaeological-center