Pre-Columbian civilizations<span>, </span><span>the aboriginal </span>American Indian cultures<span> that evolved in Mesoamerica (part of Mexico and Central America) and the Andean region (western South America) prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th century. The pre-Columbian civilizations were extraordinary developments in human society and </span>culture<span>, ranking with the early civilizations of </span>Egypt<span>, </span>Mesopotamia<span>, and </span>China<span>.
