500 Nations is an eight-part documentary that looks back at life in North America before the arrival of the Europeans, then follows the epic struggles of Indian Nations as the continent is reshaped by contact.

Copyright 1994--Disc surface. Originally broadcast by CBS Apr. 20-21, May 27-28, 1995. Special features: new series introduction and closing remarks by Kevin Costner, CGI insight with director Jack Leustig, bonus CD-ROM disc of extensive archival and making-of material.

Disc 1. Wounded Knee legacy. Ghost dance ; Massacre -- The ancestors. Creations ; The Anasazi ; Chaco Canyon, Pueblo Bonito ; Cliff Palace ; Eagle and the sun ; Cahokia and the great sun ; Other mound builders ; The Maya : Palenque ; Pacal : Mayan expansion and demise -- Mexico. Motecuhzoma ; Teotihuacan ; The Toltecs and Tollan ; The Mexica and Tenochtitln ; Aztec conquests and culture ; Cortez : Motecuhzoma's emissaries ; Cortez advances ; Cortez : arrival at Tenochtitln ; Motecuhzoma held hostage ; Attacks, Death of Motecuhzoma ; Cortez retreats, Smallpox ; Cortez returns : battle and aftermath. Disc 2. Clash of cultures. 1492 : Columbus and the Taino ; Taino ancestors ; 1493 : Columbus the conqueror ; Anacaona ; Enrique ; De Soto in Florida : the Timucua ; De Soto in South Carolina : Cofitachequi ; De Soto in Alabama : Coosa and Mobile ; De Soto at the Mississippi, Natchez ; Silent conquistador : disease -- Invasion of the coast. The Inuit people ; Martin Frobisher and Baffin Island ; Frobisher's return ; Captives, Last expedition ; Powhatan confederacy and Jamestown ; Capt. John Smith and Pocahontas ; King of the Powhatan, Trade ; War ; Pocahontas in England ; Tobacco, The last Powhatan war ; Tisquantum ; Pilgrims ; Samoset ; Massasoit's treaty ; Thanksgiving ; Decades of peace, King Phillip ; Pray or be shot ; King Phillip's war. Disc 3. Cauldron of war. Fur trade ; A way of life changes ; The Sewee ; Slavery ; French and Indian War ; Pontiac ; Haudenosaunee democracy ; The great law ; 1776 : a question of neutrality ; Defiance of the grand council ; Haudenosaunee civil war ; Haudenosaunee today -- Removal. Ohio Valley invasion ; Missionaries : alcohol ; Tenskwatawa and Prophetstown ; Tecumseh : spearhead of resistance ; Tecumseh : War of 1812 ; Civilized tribes : Cherokees ; Indian Removal Act ; Choctaw and Creek relocation ; Chief John Ross, Major Ridge ; Trail of Tears ; Tsali. Disc 4. Roads across the plains. Chumash culture ; Missions : conversion by force ; Ranch-based culture ; Gold ; Indian slavery ; Horse cultures ; Settlers from the east ; Black Kettle and White Antelope ; Sand Creek, Failed peace ; Kiowa resistance ; Battle of Little Big Horn ; Fates of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse -- Attack on culture. Chief Joseph's dilemma ; Chief Joseph's fighting retreat ; I will fight no more forever ; Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce ; Apache ; Cochise's nine-year war, San Carlos ; Geronimo ; Geronimo : the pursuit ; Geronimo : prisoner of war ; Indian Ring ; General Allotment Act, Land rushes ; Boarding schools ; The struggle today ; Keeping traditions alive.