1. The Earliest Americans
Chapter 1 Section 1
The Earliest Americans

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. The Earliest Americans

6. 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

7. 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