Ch 9 The Americas: A Separate World 40,000 BC – AD 700

How did the first people come to North America?

Land Bridge Today the Americas are isolated from the rest of the world by vast oceans Thousands of years ago the Americas were connected to Asia by a land bridge Beringia- land bridge between Asia and the Americas

Peopling the Americas The first Americans arrived sometime toward the end of the last Ice Age, which lasted from roughly 1.9 million to about 10000 BC. Huge ice sheets covered large portions of North America The buildup of glaciers locked up huge amounts of earth’s water The lowered sea levels created a land corridor between Asia and Alaska

When did the first Americans arrive? Humans are believed to have arrived in the Americas between 40,000 BC and 10,000 BC Arrowheads discovered in Clovis, New Mexico date back to 9500 BC A recent discovery in Monte Verde, Chile provides evidence of human life dating back to 10,500 BC A skull found in Mexico City has been dated to 11,000 BC and is believed to be related to the Ainu people of Japan

Hunters and Gatherers The first Americans likely migrated across the Beringia land bridge following herds of animals, including the mammoth Mammoth were the most challenging and rewarding prey Weighing more than 7 tons, they provided meat, bones, and hide for clothes, food, shelters, and tools

Following the Game Eventually large animals like the mammoth were overhunted and became extinct Hunters had to turn to smaller game like deer and rabbits Because they were hunters they had to move regularly to follow their food source

End of the Land Bridge With the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 to 10,000 years ago sea levels rose and the land bridge was gone

Agriculture Gradually, early Americans became more familiar with plant foods and began to experiment with simple farming methods By 5000 BC, many farmers began to grow plants from seeds such as avocados, squash, gourds, beans and chiles By 3400 BC, maize, or corn, became the most important crop

Farming Brings Great Change The cultivation of corn and other crops provided a more reliable and expanding food supply This encouraged population growth and the establishment of large settled communities As farming became more productive people began to turn to more nonagricultural pursuits such as art, crafts, and building trades

More Changes Differences between social classes emerged Society became more complex

Early Mesoamerican Civilizations Sec 2

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica- area stretching from central Mexico to northern Honduras, where the first complex societies in the Americas arose

Olmec Society Olmec- first known civilization builders in Mesoamerica that began creating a society around 1200 BC The Olmec culture thrived from around 800-400 BC and lived along the Gulf Coast of Mexico

Gulf Coast Geography The Gulf Coast is hot and humid and covered with swamps and jungle In some places, giant trees form a thick cover that prevents sunlight from reaching the ground Up to 100 inches of rain fell every year causing severe flooding

What are the advantages of living there?

Environmental Advantages Abundant deposits of salt and tar Fine clay for making pottery Abundance of wood and rubber Stone found in the hills to the north Rivers provided transportation Flood plains provided fertile soil

Olmec Society Archeologists have discovered earthen mounds, courtyards and pyramids Among the earthworks were large stone monuments that included columns, altars and colossal sculpted heads Most of all, they probably worshipped a jaguar spirit

What do those things tell you about Olmec society?

Trade and Commerce The Olmec appear to have been a prosperous people with a trading network throughout Mesoamerica Helped to boost their economy and spread Olmec influence

Decline of the Olmec Nobody is sure Possibly outside invaders May have destroyed own monuments after death of leaders

Zapotec Civilization Zapotec- advanced society that developed in southwestern Mexico after the decline of the Olmec Oaxaca is rugged region of mountains and valleys in southern Mexico that has fertile soil, mild climate, and plentiful rainfall

Monte Alban Monte Alban- first real urban center in the Americas that at its peak was home to 25,000 people Characterized by a giant plaza paved with stones, towering pyramids, temples and palaces

Early Mesoamericans Legacy The Olmec were an influence to many later civilizations, particularly the Maya Olmec art styles can be seen in later civilization especially the jaguar The Olmec also left the notion of planned ceremonial centers, ritual ball games, and an elite ruling class

Zapotec Contributions The Zapotec legacy includes a system of writing, calendar system based on the sun, and the first city

Early Civilizations of the Andes Sec 3

The Andes The Andes Mountains are the second highest mountain range in the world and stretch about 4,500 miles down the western edge of South America The mountains are steep, rocky, and have poor soil Hot and dry during the day and freezing during the night

First Inhabitants Between 3600 and 2500 BC people began to establish villages on the Pacific coast The first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers who relied on seafood and small game for survival Around 3000 BC, they began to farm

Chavin Period Chavin- first influential civilization in South America that flourished from 900 to 200 BC Chavin de Huantar- major ruin featuring pyramids, plazas, and massive earthen mounds Archeologists have found no evidence of political or economic organization so they conclude that the Chavin were primarily a religious civilization Chavins are considered the mother culture of Peru

Nazca The Nazca flourished along the southern coast of Peru from around 200 BC to AD 600 They created an extensive irrigation system that included underground canals that let them farm the dry climate They are most famously known for the Nazca Lines

Nazca Lines - Google Sightseeing

Moche The Moche culture lived on the northern coast of Peru from around AD 100 to AD 700 Their achievements include an extensive irrigation system Although the Moche did not have written language much is known about their civilization through the pottery they left behind