This chapter deals with the cultures that developed in the Western Hemisphere prior to the coming of the Europeans. The material covers a vast geographical territory and you will find that while some shared concerns extend throughout this area, there are marked differences as well, especially between developments in North America, and those in South America. There are still many unanswered questions about ancient American art, especially with regard to exactly where the people came from and what heritage they brought with them, but there is also ample material to permit one to be astonished by the achievements of American culture before the arrival of Europeans.

Goals for this chapter include:

• Learn the basic geography of the Americas and note the five major areas of artistic achievement.

• Understand the American preoccupation with the earth, from fashioning it into mounds and animal shapes, to erecting artificial mountains on it.

• Note the extremely important role that Mesoamerican cultures played in the history of the hemisphere.

• Acquire an eye for textile and textile designs, and note the transferal of influence design on other media.

• Note the relationship between social order, art and city planning that helped cement the social order.