The Earliest Americans Chapter 1 Section 1 The Earliest Americans

The Earliest Americans First Migration to the Americas Many scientists believe that people first came to the land of the Americas during the Ice Ages During this time the ocean level dropped creating land bridges to travel on (Bering Land Bridge) Evidence shows that the Paleo-Indians crossed the bridge between 38,000 and 10,000 B.C. They Migrated here Movement of people or animals from one region to another It is believed they and their descendants followed herds of animals all the way in to South America and became a hunter-gatherer society

The Earliest Americans Around 800 B.C. the climate warmed, the oceans rose and new landscapes, and vegetations formed Because the environment changed the interactions changed, and therefore cultures changed. Farming, started grew items such as Maize, beans, squash This allowed a more stable food supply and permanent settlements started to form

The Earliest Americans Early Mesoamerican and South American Societies Earliest cultures arose in Mesoamerica (Southern Mexico and Central America) Olmec and Maya 1200 B.C. the Olmec developed. Culture spread by trade Stone Architecture and sculpture Ended around 400 B.C. About 200 AD Mayans had become a dominate culture in the area Cities had large pyramids, bridges, buildings and canals. Very advanced society By 900 Maya culture began to collapse and disappear Video Clip on Mayans http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=351924

The Earliest Americans

The Earliest Americans Aztecs Warrior attitude and strong military led to great success Migration to Central Mexico around 1100 AD Huge trade networks 1325 Capital city of Tenochtitlan’ was found on an island in Lake Texcoco One of the worlds largest cities Connected to shores by roads that were built up

The Earliest Americans Inca Andes Mountain range region Capital Cuzco By 1500 empire stretched from Ecuador to central Chili 12 Million people lived in the empire Quechua was the official language No written language so records were kept on knotted ropes called quipu Great Artwork and road system