1. The Earliest Americans  Two Ideas – From Asia By land By sea  The Land Bridge Theory Glaciers lowered ocean levels – land bridge ○ Now the Bering Strait Hunters came from Siberia following food Movement trend was eastward and southward

2. The Earliest Americans  Other Theories Coastal Route Theory – southward along Pacific coast Natives have own theories told through story telling  Questions??? Why does the textbook provide more information on the land bridge theory and practically none on the “other theories”? Could there be more theories? If so, what is one? If not, why not?

3. The Earliest Americans  Learning to Farm Early humans hunted Large animals disappeared Humans became gatherers – began to travel Mexican Natives began to grow food – developed irrigation system - created stability Population grew – had a surplus (extra) food – grew into communities

4. The Earliest Americans  Three Civilizations – Mayas, Aztecs, Incas Three largest  Mayas 250 A.D. – 900 A.D. Mexico & Central America Developed arts, system of govt., written lang., most accurate calendar Decline of populations – because of disease and/or overpopulation (theories)

5. The Earliest Americans  Aztecs Came after Mayas Built Tenochtitlan – capital – present day Mexico City - >200,000 people Religion dominated life Powerful army – harsh rulers – controlled half of modern day Mexico  Incas 1400s largest empire Capital – Cuzco – linked to other cities by network of roads Known engineering buildings of huge stone; canals to carry water; and bridges

6. Cultures of N.America  First Cultures of N. America Mound Builders – constructed large piles of earth ○ Appalachian mtns – Mississippi Valley ○ Built first cities Anasazi ○ Utah, Colorado, N. Arizona, N. Mexico ○ Built large cliff dwellings ○ Engaged in trade ○ 1300 – abandoned cliff dwellings

7. Questions?  How does the author know the mound builders built the 1 st cities? It doesn’t provide a date.  Why does the textbook state the Anasazis are different, but doesn’t state how?  Why does the textbook provide a date of 1300 on pg. 10, 2 nd paragraph, but doesn’t state if it is A.D. of B.C.?

8. Cultures of N. America  First Cultures of N. America (cont.) Hohokam ○ 300 B.C. to A.D. 1450 ○ Present day Arizona ○ Irrigation system; traded  Ways of Life – Different but Similiar Meeting Basic Needs ○ Women collected food/Men hunted ○ Farming communities larger than non-farming ○ Trade was common

9. Cultures of N. America  Shared Beliefs Sprits dwelled in nature Strong oral traditions – storytelling – memorized history & beliefs – passed from generation to generation  Question? How reliable is Native American oral history? Is it believable? Explain your answer.

10. Cultures of N. America  Native Americans of N. America Far North ○ Arctic people Survived on fish, birds, shellfish/hunted marine animals ○ Subarctic people Too cold for farming; animals/plants of forest N.West ○ Alaska – N. Cali ○ Food plentiful – permanent settlements ○ Family status = money Far West ○ Different geographic areas – cold to warm – housing different

11. Cultures of N. America Southwest ○ Arizona, N. Mexico, Utah, Colorado ○ Some farmed; some hunted ○ Pueblo (Hopis & Zunis) = stable towns Great Plains ○ Eastern Plains Mississippi River to Rocky Mtns. Farmed Lived in earth lodges ○ Western Plains Dry – lived in tepees – buffalo dependent (food, clothing, housing, tools)

12. Cultures 0f N. America  Eastern Woodlands Lived by hunting, fishing, foraging nuts/berries Farming by A.D. 1000 Algonquian – Canada, Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast to Virginia Iroquoian – New York ○ 5 distinct nations – clans/families – women held influence/owned all property/chose chief ○ 1500s constant warfare – League of Iroquois  Questions? Who gave the Native’s their names if Europeans didn’t know the language? Was it forced on them as it was for African slaves? Is it because the Iroquois were engrossed in their conflict against each other that the Europeans were able to manipulate them and eventually force them away from their homes?

13. Cultures of N. America Southeast ○ Mild climate; summers = steamy/hot ○ Farmers ○ Cherokees/Creeks ○ Natchez People of Gulf Coast = complex society Great Sun = ruler Nobles Commoners (Stinkards) Great Sun & Nobles had to marry commoners = provided some form of equality/opportunity for class Question?? ○ Why does their hierarchy mirror that of the Great Empires of Rome, Africa, & S. East Asia? Was their more of a connection here than meets the eye?