1. The Earliest Americans
Chapter 2 Section 1
The Earliest Americans

2. First Migration to the Americas
1st people arrived in North America during the last Ice Age
Water froze into glaciers
Ocean levels dropped and a bridge between northeast Asia and Alaska was exposed
Bering Land Bridge
People called Paleo-Indians crossed bridge into Alaska between 38,000 & 10,000 BC
Nomadic
Hunter-gatherers

3. The End of the Ice Age 8000 BC glaciers melted and water rose
Covered land bridge
Created new environments
Influenced development of different Native American societies
Planted & farmed
Maize – corn
Beans
Squash
Farming allowed people to stop moving & settle in one place

4. Early Mesoamerican & South American Societies

5. Characteristics of a Civilization
Live in cities
Well organized government
Different social classes
Complex religion
Some form of record keeping

6. OLMEC Earliest known civilization in the Americas
Lived around Gulf of Mexico in modern day Mexico
Achievements:
Use of stone:
massive stone heads
1st pyramids in America
Calendar

7. MAYA Lived in the rainforests of present day Guatemala & Mexico
Clear social hierarchy:
Priests
Nobles – warriors & government officials
Laborers & farmers
Slaves – POWs & criminals

8. MAYA continued Achievements: Astronomy – 365 day calendar
Math – system of numbers w/ concept of zero
Built large cities
Around 900AD abandoned their temples and cities
About 2 million people still speak Mayan languages today in Guatemala & Mexico

9. AZTEC Once nomadic Settled around Lake Texcoco in Central Mexico
created capital city of Tenochtitlan on island
Built causeways to connect island to mainland
VERY rich society because of trade & conquest
Priests studied heavens
Created calendar to tell when to plant & harvest crops
Did rituals to please gods
SUN GOD – battled across the heavens to rise every morning – Aztec’s were the “Warriors of the Sun”
Gave human sacrifices to get the sun to rise every day

10. AZTEC continued Social hierarchy: Emperor Priests/nobles Warriors
Merchants/artisans
Farmers
Slaves

11. INCA Settled in Andes Mountains
Western coast of South America – about 2500 miles
Capital – holy city of Cuzco
Strong central government
Emperor known as Sapa Inca – considered a god
Ruled over 12 million people
Used governors to go out into empire to make sure people were working for the state
Highways
Paved roads

12. INCA continued Record keeping – quipu Achievements:
Known for building and art
built stone temples using only human labor, ropes and wooded rollers
Terraces – wide steps made into the land