The history and social structures of Latin America’s native peoples were neither simple nor peaceful before the arrival of Europeans. Wars were fought, empires were created and destroyed, and—as this program illustrates—narrative tapestries of fact and fiction were woven in the process. Underscoring the linguistic sophistication that flourished for thousands of years in the region, the program addresses the proliferation of Nahuatl and Quechua literature, the codices and quipu of Mayan and Incan societies, and other ancient forms of written and oral communication. Although mythical accounts—including the Popol Vuh, the Chilam Balam, the Apu Ollantay, and the Runa yndio—are analyzed on several levels, they are most notably linked with the agendas of pre-Columbian social hierarchies. An FFH&S/Tranquilo Production. (45 minutes)