Ancient Americans and Early

Civilizations

Beringia How did people [get to] America?

Some scientists believe they came across Beringia. Thousands and thousands of [years ago], land connected Asia-(the largest continent) to North America. Many people and animals crossed this land and came to North America.

Ice Age

Glaciers - are huge pieces of slowly moving ice.

* Many thousands of years ago the earth was very cold and there was a lot of ice.

The Beringia Land Bridge

Some scientists believe this was all land. It was called the Beringia Land Bridge.

From Hunting to Agriculture (growing plants)

For many many years, Indians (the first to arrive in America) hunted animals for food. Later, the Indians changed and they began farming for food. The Indians used farming and hunting [to feed] their families.

Most of the farmers grew crops like corn, beans, and squash. Farming allowed people [to stay] in the same place because they didn’t [have to] follow the animals for food.

Many of the tools they used were made from rocks and sticks.

Some of the animals they hunted where huge. The mammoth was a very large and hairy animal that was much like an elephant

Homes were made from sticks, leaves, vines, and other plants.

Civilizations Civilization- a group of people that have

government, religion, and culture.

Pueblo (year-1100) - The Pueblo lived in the Southwest about two thousand years ago. They built houses out of mud and stone.

Aztec (year- 1300)- The Aztec civilization ruled in Central Mexico about one thousand years ago. They built pyramids and made calendars.

Aztecs and Pueblos

The Aztecs had over 250,000 people. They built roads and pyramids and made calendars.

The Pueblos made houses from mud and stones. The made buildings with many rooms and they also built churches for praying. One day the all of the Pueblos left their villages and never came back.

The Pueblos

The Pueblos lived in the southwestern United States. The Pueblos were American Indians.

This area is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma.

People of the Northwest Alaska to Northern California-This area of the

U.S. has mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Several American Indian groups lived in this region.

The Indians lived in the Northwest over 500 years ago. They hunted for most of their food and collected vegetables and water from the land.

People of the Southeast Alaska to Northern California-This area of the

U.S. has mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Several American Indian groups lived in this region.

The Indians lived in the Northwest over 500 years ago. They hunted for most of their food and collected vegetables and water from the land.

People of the Northwest Alaska to Northern California-This area of the

U.S. has mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Several American Indian groups lived in this region.

The Indians lived in the Northwest over 500 years ago. They hunted for most of their food and collected vegetables and water from the land.

People of the Southeast Choctaw Chickasaw Natchez