THE EARLY AMERICAS Ancient America

Migration  Where?  Bering Land Bridge  Why?  Climate  When?  43,000 – 10,000 BCE  Proof?  American Indians and Siberians in Northern Asia

Agriculture  Modern-day Mexico  Earliest plants: squash, chili peppers, avocado, corn (small ears)  Later ( BCE): beans, new squash, pumpkins, cotton (from Peru)  In lowlands: manioc and maize  2300 BCE – almost all people depend on agriculture  Modern-day Peru  5000 BCE: quinoa, potatoes, corn, bean, chili peppers  Domesticated llamas

The Olmecs (1200 – 400 BCE)  Created ceremonial centers  Centers had art and architecture  La Venta  Colossal Heads  Were “almost civilized”  No cities  400 BCE (became the Maya)  Diet was different from other Riv Civs (see Smithsonian article)

Zapotec BCE – 700 CE)  Began as early as the Olmecs  Products: pottery, rituals objects, mirrors, ceramics  Monte Alban

Andean South America: Chavin (1200 BCE – 200 BCE)  Named for Chavin de Huantar in central Peru  Temples  Cultural connection  After 200 BCE Influence  Tiwanaku  Huari  Nazca

Difference between West and East  No metal tools  No wheels  No transportation animals  No writing system  Sooo….Can we call them a civilization?