The First The First AmericansAmericans

Chapter 1, Sections 1 & 2Chapter 1, Sections 1 & 2

Early PeoplesEarly Peoples• The first people to enter North The first people to enter North

America were Asian hunters. America were Asian hunters. • It is estimated they entered North It is estimated they entered North

America around 28,000 B.C.America around 28,000 B.C.• How did they get here?How did they get here?

The Journey From AsiaThe Journey From Asia• Ancient Peoples Ancient Peoples

Come to the Come to the AmericasAmericas– 30,000 years ago30,000 years ago– They arrived during They arrived during

an “an “Ice AgeIce Age” when ” when parts of the earth parts of the earth were covered in ice were covered in ice sheets.sheets.

– BeringiaBeringia: Land : Land bridge between bridge between Siberia and Alaska.Siberia and Alaska.

BeringiaBeringia• Today Beringia is known as the Today Beringia is known as the

Bering Strait. Bering Strait.

In Search of Hunting GroundsIn Search of Hunting Grounds

– Early people were hunters and gatherers.Early people were hunters and gatherers.– NomadsNomads: individuals who move from place to place in : individuals who move from place to place in

search of food and water.search of food and water.

– Crossing the land bridge was known as aCrossing the land bridge was known as a migrationmigration, a movement of a large number of , a movement of a large number of people to a new homeland.people to a new homeland.– Hunters and gatherers spread across North America and Hunters and gatherers spread across North America and

as far as South America.as far as South America.

Cause and Effect Cause and Effect

*Earth enters anIce Age

Hunters from Asiacross into North

America

People spread into Central America and

South AmericaThe early Americanscreate new cultures

End of the Ice AgeEnd of the Ice Age• Ice Age ends around 10,000 B.C.Ice Age ends around 10,000 B.C.- Large animals begin to disappear.Large animals begin to disappear.- Early Americans forced to hunt deer, Early Americans forced to hunt deer,

birds and rodents.birds and rodents.- During this time, early Americans During this time, early Americans

become less nomadic.become less nomadic.

The Discovery of FarmingThe Discovery of Farming

• Around 7,000 B.C., people living in North America make a Around 7,000 B.C., people living in North America make a huge discovery.huge discovery.

- Learned how to farm efficientlyLearned how to farm efficiently- plant and raise an early form of corn called plant and raise an early form of corn called maizemaize..

- Agricultural plants such as squash and lima beans follow.Agricultural plants such as squash and lima beans follow.- No need to move from place to place. Maize becomes a No need to move from place to place. Maize becomes a

stable food.stable food.- Early communities form.Early communities form.- People learn irrigation techniques.People learn irrigation techniques.- Surplus of food is formed.Surplus of food is formed.

The Growth of CulturesThe Growth of Cultures• The discovery of agriculture leads to The discovery of agriculture leads to

new cultures.new cultures.- CultureCulture: A common way of life : A common way of life

(customs).(customs).- Communities form and develop Communities form and develop

common customs, beliefs, ideas and common customs, beliefs, ideas and ways to protect themselves.ways to protect themselves.

Cities and CivilizationsCities and Civilizations• Long before the arrival of Europeans Long before the arrival of Europeans

in the early 1500’s, there were in the early 1500’s, there were several great civilizations.several great civilizations.

• CivilizationCivilization: Highly developed : Highly developed societies. societies.

Advanced CivilizationsAdvanced Civilizations

Early American CivilizationsEarly American Civilizations• Central America/MexicoCentral America/Mexico

– MayaMaya– AztecAztec

• South AmericaSouth America– IncaInca

• North AmericaNorth America– MississippianMississippian

Mayan Civilization Mayan Civilization • The largest Mayan city was The largest Mayan city was TikalTikal in in

present day Guatemala.present day Guatemala.• Tikal had five pyramids used for Tikal had five pyramids used for

government and religious functions.government and religious functions.

Maya CivilizationMaya Civilization• MayaMaya

– Located in Guatemala Located in Guatemala and Mexicoand Mexico

– A.D. 250 – A.D. 900 A.D. 250 – A.D. 900 – Reached it’s peak in 700 Reached it’s peak in 700

A.D.A.D.– Farmers and huntersFarmers and hunters– TheocracyTheocracy: Society : Society

ruled by religious ruled by religious leadersleaders

– Built very large temples Built very large temples that are still standing that are still standing todaytoday

Mayan TheocracyMayan Theocracy• Believed the gods controlled Believed the gods controlled

everything.everything.• Mayan priests made the important Mayan priests made the important

decisions. They were said to know decisions. They were said to know the wishes of the gods.the wishes of the gods.

Mayan CivilizationMayan Civilization• The Mayan kept accurate records of The Mayan kept accurate records of

their religious festivals. their religious festivals. • Mayan were Mayan were skilled astronomers and skilled astronomers and

made a 365 day calendar.made a 365 day calendar.

Mayan TradeMayan Trade• Mayan traders traveled by foot and Mayan traders traveled by foot and

canoe.canoe.• Traded maize, vegetables, turquoise Traded maize, vegetables, turquoise

jewelry, cacao beans.jewelry, cacao beans.• Traded in exchange for cotton, cloth, Traded in exchange for cotton, cloth,

pottery and deer meat.pottery and deer meat.

MayaMaya– Created 1Created 1stst writing system in the writing system in the

AmericasAmericas– Hieroglyphics: symbols and pictures Hieroglyphics: symbols and pictures

represent things, ideas and sounds.represent things, ideas and sounds.– Decline: around 900 A.D.Decline: around 900 A.D.

•Warfare?Warfare?•Depleted resources?Depleted resources?

Mayan HieroglyphicsMayan Hieroglyphics

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization• AztecAztec

– Emerges around A.D. Emerges around A.D. 1100 1100

– Location: Current day Location: Current day Mexico City.Mexico City.

– Society of warriorsSociety of warriors, , merchants, priests, merchants, priests, commoners, and slaves.commoners, and slaves.

– Very militaristic. Very militaristic. Conquered nearly all rival Conquered nearly all rival communities and forced communities and forced taxes: tributes of food taxes: tributes of food and and human sacrifices.human sacrifices.

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization– TenochtitlanTenochtitlan: Aztec capital. : Aztec capital. Served as Served as

a trading center and attracted a trading center and attracted thousands of merchants. Built around thousands of merchants. Built around 1325 A.D.1325 A.D.

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization• Tenochtitlan was built in the middle Tenochtitlan was built in the middle

of a lake for protection.of a lake for protection.

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization• AztecsAztecs- Aztec society was organized Aztec society was organized

around religion.around religion.- Story telling an important part of Story telling an important part of

early religionearly religion- Believed human sacrifices were Believed human sacrifices were

needed to keep the gods pleased. needed to keep the gods pleased. - MontezumaMontezuma

•Coronation: 5,000 human Coronation: 5,000 human sacrifices in one day!sacrifices in one day!

• DeclineDecline•Europeans arrive in 1500CEEuropeans arrive in 1500CE

– DiseaseDisease– WarWar

The Serpent and the EagleThe Serpent and the EagleThe flag of Mexico pays homage to the The flag of Mexico pays homage to the

Aztec civilization.Aztec civilization.

Inca CivilizationInca Civilization• IncasIncas

– Located in South Located in South AmericaAmerica

– Expands around 1400 Expands around 1400 A.D.A.D.

– Largest of the early Largest of the early American Civilizations American Civilizations

– Empire = 2,500 miles Empire = 2,500 miles bigbig

– At the height of the At the height of the empire, it had about empire, it had about nine million peoplenine million people

Inca CivilizationInca Civilization• Inca weapons included clubs, spears, Inca weapons included clubs, spears,

slings and the ax.slings and the ax.

Inca CivilizationInca Civilization• Militaristic Militaristic • Men between 25 and 50 years old could Men between 25 and 50 years old could

be asked to serve in the military.be asked to serve in the military.• Technology (roads, terraces, bridges)Technology (roads, terraces, bridges)• Built 10,000 miles of stone paved roads Built 10,000 miles of stone paved roads

ran throughout the empire. ran throughout the empire. • AgricultureAgriculture• Grew and traded squash, tomatoes, Grew and traded squash, tomatoes,

maize, cotton and potatoes.maize, cotton and potatoes.• Capital city was Cuzco. Capital city was Cuzco.

Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization• Right: Incan suspension bridgeRight: Incan suspension bridge• Lower left: terraces (planting crops)Lower left: terraces (planting crops)• Bottom right: Machu PicchuBottom right: Machu Picchu

QuestionQuestion Most early civilizations were involved Most early civilizations were involved

in trade How does trade help enrich a in trade How does trade help enrich a civilization?civilization?