1 The First Americans Prehistory to 1492
Early People
Early Human Migrations 1st Migration, 38,000-1800 BCE 2nd Migration, c. 10,000-4,000 BCE 3rd Migration, c. 8,000-3,000 BCE
CULTURE AREAS OF NATIVE AMERICANS
How did Natives Arrive? Ice Bridge Over the Bearing Strait: Some Native Americans came from a land that later sank into the sea called Beringia during the last ice age\ Beringia now lies under the Bering Strait. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EBknU7D1OI
Possible Prehistoric Migration Through North America
Hunting for Food
Settling Down Eventually the hunter-gatherers settled down to grown maize (corn) This allowed for the development of specialized workers and villiages
The Growth of Cultures With the free time from specialized workers culture began to develop Religion, art, language, and social hierarchy are all part of culture
Central and South American Societies
Olmec First major civilization in Mexico and Guatemala They had a large trade network between 1200 and 400 BCE Famous for their large stone monuments, pavement, and drainage systems Most likely declined due to climate change
Olmec
The Maya One of the longest lasting and most powerful civilizations in the world lasting from 2000 BCE to 1697 CE Famous for its monuments, calendar, understanding of astronomy, and Mathematics Was a theocracy ruled by priests By 900 CE had faded from power due to climate change
Chichen Itza
The Aztec The Aztec Empire was founded in 1372 as a military empire, It was a powerful union of city-states that ruled the region for 200 years. In the end it fell to Spanish invaders due to disease, and the Cortez’ ability to turn the union against itself.
The Inca The Incan Empire was founded around 1200 CE and stretched 3000 miles down the Andes Mountains The Inca were famous for their road system, tax system, and terrace farming They will be conquered by the Spanish in the mid 1500’s
Machu Picchu
Incan Empire
North American People
Hohokam A major civilization in the southwest from 300 BCE to 1200 CE Developed irrigation and adobe buildings The civilization failed because of increasing desertification
The Anasazi In the same area as the Hohokam, the Anasazi perfected pueblo building Had the largest cliff dwellings in the world with thousands of inhabitants Also declined due to drought and desertification
The Mound Builders 1000 BCE to 900 CE stretched from great lakes to Florida They were a group of cultures that built large mounds shaped like animals for religious reasons Very little is known other than they had a massive trade empire
Cahokia The largest settlement of the Mississipian Mound Builders was built between A.D. 900 and A.D. 1200 and had 30,000 or more residents. The largest mound of 100 Feet High, when built, it was probably the highest structure north of Mexico. No one knows why it was abandoned around 1300
Iroquois Nation The Federation was a single government that linked the different groups Iroquois League was made up of 5 tribes Women could hold positions of power League Council were 50 men that represented their tribes
Native American Cultures 1 What does this map tell us?