CONVERGING CULTURES

THE ASIAN MIGRATION TO AMERICA DNA and other evidence indicated that the earliest Americans probably came from Asia. –In what ways could these Asians migrated to the Americas?

Beringia 100,000 years ago Earth began to cool forming glaciers Ice Age Ocean levels dropped, exposing dry land between Asia and Alaska called Beringia. Scientists believe that people from Asia were nomads and followed animals that they hunted.

EARLY CIVILIZATIONS OF MESOAMERICA Agricultural Revolution Maize (corn) Civilization: highly organized society characterized by trade, government, the arts, science, and a written language.

OLMEC First civilization in America Near present day Veracruz, Mexico Olmec had villages, temples, and pyramids, and they built large sculpted monuments. Influenced another people to build Teotihuacan, the first large city in America. They set up a trade network in which they traded obsidian, volcanic glass, which was good for tools and weapons. p. 14

THE MAYA Developed in the Yucatan Peninsula, Central America, and southern America. They developed calendars based on the stars. They built elaborate temple pyramids. The Mayan people were not unified and often went to war. p. 14

THE TOLTEC Master architects Built large pyramids and huge palaces. Were invaded by the Chichimec. P 14-15

THE AZTEC Built the city of Tenochtitlan, where Mexico City is today. They built a great empire by conquering other cities. Their military controlled trade in the region and demanded tribute from the cities they conquered. p

NORTH AMERICAN CULTURES The Hohokam built a civilization in what is now south-central Arizona ( ’s). –They created elaborate irrigation canals. –They grew many crops and made pottery, pendants, and etchings. p. 15

THE ANASAZI Built civilization (700 and 900) in the area of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Built networks of basins and ditches to catch rainwater for their crops Chaco Canyon (NW New Mexico) Built large multi- story buildings of adobe and cut stone called pueblos. The buildings had connecting passageways and circular ceremonial rooms called kivas. Cliff dwellings called Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado. p. 15

THE ADENA Most important mound-building culture Began in the Ohio River Valley and spread east to New York and New England. p. 16

The Mississippian Culture Culture arose in the Ohio River Valley. The rich soil of the flood plains was good for growing maize and beans. The Mississippians were great builders. Cahokia was built in Illinois near present day St. Louis Missouri. It had over 100 flat- topped pyramids. The culture spread along the Missouri, Ohio, Red, and Arkansas Rivers.