Chapter 1: Colonizing America Section 1: North America Before Columbus

Mesoamerican Cultures Current science suggests that the first humans arrived in America between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. DNA tests show that these people most likely came from Northeast Asia. These people used a land bridge that connected Asia and Alaska. Beringia Why did these people cross the land bridge? Nomadic hunters following large animals.

Overtime these people began to spread throughout the Americas. Agricultural Revolution- Occurred between 7,500 and 9,500 years ago. Early Americans began planting crops. Began in Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica= central and southern Mexico and Central America. Ag. Revolution allowed for the development of the first civilizations.

The Olmec The first people to develop a civilization in Mesoamerica. Olmec culture emerged between 1500 B.C. and 1200 B.C. They developed a sophisticated society. Had large villages, temples complexes, and pyramids. Olmec ideas and culture will spread throughout Mesoamerica.

The Maya Emerged around 200 AD in the Yucatan Peninsula and expanded into Central America and Southern Mexico. The Maya developed complex and accurate calendars linked to the positions of the stars. They also built temple pyramids. Some pyramids were 200 ft. high. At the top, the Maya performed ceremonies to honor their gods. The Maya were not unified. Each city-state controlled its own territory and frequently went to war with one another. The Mayan culture thrived until 900 AD when they abandoned the Yucatan.

The Toltec and The Aztec Built the city of Tula. They were master architects building large pyramids and huge palaces. They were among the first American people to use gold and copper in art and jewelry. Around 1150, Tula fell to invaders from the north known as the Chichimec.

The Aztecs One group of Chichimec called the Mexica, founded the city of Tenochtitlan around 1350. (Modern day Mexico City) The Mexica took the name Aztec for themselves . The Aztecs created an empire by conquering their neighbors. Using their military power, they controlled trade in the region and demanded tribute from the cities they conquered. The Aztecs were known to sacrifice humans to honor their gods. By 1500, 5 million people were living under Aztec rule.

Western Cultures The Hohokam- Developed around 700 AD in south-central Arizona. They developed large irrigation canals. They grew corn, cotton, beans, and squash. The Hohokam civilization flourished for 1000 years but by the 1300s they abandoned their irrigation systems and by 1500 they disappeared from history.

The Anasazi- Developed in the four-corners region of the USA around 700-900 AD. These people are also known as the Navajo. They collected water by building networks of basins and ditches to channel rain water. The Anasazi would be known for building pueblos. Pueblos were made out of mud and stone. These building could be multistory houses.

Mississippian Culture and Its Descendents Between 700-900 AD, Mississippian culture emerged. It began in the Mississippi River valley Rich soil allowed the people to grow maize and beans. The Mississippians built big cities and flat top pyramids. Cahokia covered 5 sq miles and was home to 16,000 people.

Peoples of the Southeast Many aspects of Mississippian culture traveled to the Southeast. Most people lived in towns with houses and buildings surrounding a central plaza. Women did most of the farming, while men hunted deer, bear, and wildfowl. The Cherokee was the largest civilization in the southeast. They were located in North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and Northeastern Georgia . About 20,000 Cherokee lived in 60 towns when the Europeans arrived.

The Great Plains The people of the Great Plains were nomads. They abandoned farming and their towns to become nomads due to war or drought. They followed buffalo herds that migrated throughout the Great Plains. The mastery of taming wild horses brought over by the Spanish allowed native people to move and hunt more easily. The Sioux became the some of the world’s greatest mounted hunters and warriors.

Northeastern Peoples The people of the Northeast combined hunting, fishing, and farming to make great societies. These people used slash and burn techniques to clear more land for farming. Two groups of people emerged. 1. The Algonquian 2. The Iroquois

The Algonquian The Algonquian speaking people lived in what it is today the New England area. A group of Algonquian people also lived in Virginia. The Algonquian were the first Native Americans to encounter English settlers.

The Iroquois The Iroquois people could be found in New York and Canada. Iroquois tribes- Huron, Neutral, Erie, Wenro, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk. Iroquois lived in longhouses in large towns protected by wooden stockades. Men did the hunting and women were responsible for planting and harvesting crops. Women selected the ruling councilmen Iroquois Confederacy- formed by 5 nations (Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Onondaga.) Hiawatha, leader of the Mohawk, founded the Confederacy. The confederacy agreed to a Great Binding Law. Which was an oral constitution defining how the alliance worked.