Pre-Columbian Societies OBJECTIVE #2: LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE NATIVE AMERICAN EMPIRES IN MESOAMERICA, THE SOUTHWEST, AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

Native American Civilizations in the South  The most elaborate civilizations developed in South America  Peru (the Incas created the largest empires in the Americas)  Mexico (the Meso-Americans and Olmec people also developed a great civilization)  In Central America and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico the Mayan Civilization became the most sophisticated civilization  Written language  Number system  Calendar  Agricultural system  Trade routes

Native American Civilizations in the South  The Mayans were eventually taken over by the Aztecs (who called themselves the Mexica )  The Aztec capitol was Tenochtitlan and it became the most advanced/organized city up to that point  Large buildings  Schools  Organized military  Medical system  Slave work force  Trade system

Native American Civilization in the North  The Native American civilizations in the North were primarily hunting and gathering societies  In Alaska, the Eskimos fished and hunted and tribes in the Pacific North West and East led “ nomadic ” lives and fished salmon  Other North American societies were agricultural and focused on farming and built irrigation systems

Native American Civilization in the South East  The east was covered in forests and was inhabited by the “Woodland Indians”  In the Mississippi Valley there were several different tribes including:  Iroquois  Cherokee  Muskogean  Seminoles

The Iroquois  The Iroquois included five distinct Native American nations and would become the most powerful Native American tribe in the Northeast  They developed a political system that helped build their tribe to be the largest and strongest