1. Where did they come from? How did they get here? Who were they?
Earliest Americans

2. Migration from Asia
Migration == movement of people or animals from one place to another

3. Cross Bering Land Bridge
More Migration
Cross Bering Land Bridge
Sea level fell & was easy to cross
People travelled from Asia south through Canada
continued south through US & South America

4. BERING LAND BRIDGE

5. Map of Migration

6. People Adapted to Environment
Hunted animals
Grow food
Developed culture
people with common values, language, traditions, religions, etc..

7. Early American Empires
Olmec
Maya
Aztec
Incas

8. First civilization in Mesoamerica
Olmec
First civilization in Mesoamerica
Located in present day Mexico
Built first pyramids in Americas

9. Maya Lived in small villages Grew food>>> maize (corn)
Had large pyramids & stone temples
Built canals for water irrigation
Early form of writing
Lived in present- day Mexico

10. Aztec
Fierce warriors
Largest city of Tenochtitlan (in present day Mexico)
Practiced human sacrifices
Written language
Forced tribes they conquered to pay taxes to them

11. Inca Lived in Andes Mountains
Empire stretched along Pacific Coast of South America
Known for massive buildings & forts
Paved roads & rope bridges to connect all locations
Carved terraces out of mountains to farm

12. Locations of Empires