500 Nations

500 Nations is an eight-part documentary on the Native Americans of North and Central America. It documents from pre-Columbian to the end of the 19th century. Much of the information comes from text, eyewitnesses, pictorials, and computer graphics. The series was hosted by Kevin Costner, narrated by Gregory Harrison, and directed by Jack Leustig. It included the voice talents of Eric Schweig, Gordon Tootoosis, Wes Studi, Cástulo Guerra, Tony Plana, Edward James Olmos, Patrick Stewart, Gary Farmer, Tom Jackson, Tantoo Cardinal, Dante Basco, Sheldon Peters Wolfchild, Tim Bottoms, Michael Horse, Graham Greene, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Amy Madigan, Frank Salsedo, and Kurtwood Smith. The series was written by Jack Leustig, Roberta Grossman, Lee Miller, and W. T. Morgan, with Dr. John M. D. Pohl. "The truth is, we have a story worth talking about. We have a history worth celebrating. Long before the first Europeans arrived here, there were some 500 nations already in North America. They blanketed the continent from coast to coast, from Central America to the Arctic. There were tens of millions of people here, speaking over 300 languages. Many of them lived in beautiful cities, among the largest and most advanced in the world. In the coming hours, 500 Nations looks back on those ancient cultures, how they lived, and how many survived.... What you're about to see is what happened. It's not all that happened, and it's not always pleasant. We can't change that. We can't turn back the clock. But we can open our eyes and give the first nations of this land the recognition and respect they deserve: their rightful place in the history of the world." Kevin Costner

500 Nations (1995) is a US documentary miniseries created for CBS, a single eight-episode run of one-hour installments. Hosted by Kevin Costner, with narration by Gregory Harrison, it surveys the many indigenous nations of North and Central America from the pre-Columbian era to the end of the nineteenth century. Rather than following a single protagonist, the series builds its story from eyewitness accounts, pictorial records and computer graphic reconstructions of ancient cities and daily life. Voice performances by Native actors including Eric Schweig, Gordon Tootoosis, Wes Studi and Tantoo Cardinal, along with Edward James Olmos and Patrick Stewart, give the historical testimony its emotional weight. Each episode moves across regions and centuries, showing how these cultures lived, adapted and endured colonial encounters. The tone is solemn, reflective and respectful, with an earnest insistence on recognition and dignity for peoples too often left out of the national story. Viewers drawn to the epic sweep of a history documentary, the reenactment style of Civilization, or the cultural scope of The Conquistadors will find resonance in its patient, panoramic approach to the past.

Critics respected the series' ambition and its use of Native voices to tell a continental history, but found its broad sweep superficial in places and its celebrity host distracting.

• The Ancient Mysteriesshared documentary form, epic historical sweep, narrated survey of a civilization
• Civilizationshared true events historical documentary with celebrity host and dramatized reenactment
• The Conquistadorsshared historical documentary scope on colonial encounters and cultural loss

Release Date

1995-04-20

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.5 / 10 (15)

What is 500 Nations about?

An eight-part documentary chronicling the many nations of North and Central America from pre-Columbian times to the close of the nineteenth century.

What is 500 Nations like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 500 Nations as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is 500 Nations violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in 500 Nations as moderate.

What did critics think of 500 Nations?

Critics respected the series' ambition and its use of Native voices to tell a continental history, but found its broad sweep superficial in places and its celebrity host distracting.

Which shows are like 500 Nations?

Shows with a similar feel include The Ancient Mysteries, Civilization, and The Conquistadors.

How long is 500 Nations?

500 Nations: 1 season, 8 episodes.

Is 500 Nations still running?

No, 500 Nations has ended.