1. Earliest Americans

2. The 1 st Migration During last Ice Age water was frozen & sea levels low Exposed land bridge between Asia and Alaska over the Bering Strait 1 st Native Americans who crossed were nomads and hunter- gathers– followed herds for hunting Spread out all over N and S America

3. Hunted woolly mammoths, mastadons, ran from saber-tooth tigers Sharpened rocks and bones for spears Used all parts of animal- skin, meat, bones Ice age ends and large animals die out, sea covers the land bridge

4. Settling Down NA’s begin to hunt small animals and crops, maize (early version of corn) Allowed them to stay in one place Form villages, turn into civilizations Create culture and religion Several large civilizations develop before Europeans get here

5. The Maya Farmers in rainforest of central America Built flat top pyramids of stone in center of each city– used for religious ceremonies Largest was at Tikal Believe in many gods that controlled all things, priests ruled– theocracy

6. Skilled in astronomy and math Created 365 calendar and hieroglyphic writing system Empire suddenly declined– unknown what happened Many think soil wore out, slave revolt, aliens? Calendar ends 12-2012– end of world scare?

7. The Aztec Centuries after Mayans Wandering hunters in central Mexico Saw religious symbol (eagle on cactus with snake in mouth) told them to stop wandering Large island in center of lake– built the city of Tenochtitlan

8. Tenochtitlan– huge city with canals, paved roads, 3 draw bridges and floating gardens Military people, conqueror surrounding tribes, used as slaves and human sacrifice– sun god

9. The Inca Largest of the 3, same time as Aztec Andes mountains of S. America Capital of Cuzco Captured others and made part of empire Farming on sides of mountains-- terraces

10. Huge army, clubs, spears, spiked balls on ropes All controlled by emperor, thought to be descendant of sun god Temples lined with gold– sun god Miles of paved roads and rope bridges, used runners to communicate messages

11. Present day Arizona, earlier than Aztec/Inca Experts at using water/irrigation in the desert Stone and pottery, traded with Pacific Coast The Hohokam

12. The Anasazi Four corners region of southwest US Stone dwellings called pueblos, built like apartments Cliff dwellings– Mesa Verde, Colorado Were abandoned, no one knows why

13. Central US, Penn to Miss. River and down to Florida Built mounds of earth that resembled pyramids and animals Mounds for burial, religion, and trade centers The Mound Builders