Chapter 2 Section 1 The Earliest Americans. First Migration to the Americas 1st people arrived in...
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Transcript of Chapter 2 Section 1 The Earliest Americans. First Migration to the Americas 1st people arrived in...
Chapter 2 Section 1
The Earliest Americans
First Migration to the Americas
1st people arrived in North America during the last Ice Age– Water froze into glaciers– Ocean levels dropped and a bridge between
northeast Asia and Alaska was exposed Bering Land Bridge
People called Paleo-Indians crossed bridge into Alaska between 38,000 & 10,000 BC– Nomadic – Hunter-gatherers
The End of the Ice Age
8000 BC glaciers melted and water rose– Covered land bridge
Created new environments Influenced development of different Native American
societies– Planted & farmed
Maize – corn Beans Squash
Farming allowed people to stop moving & settle in one place
Early Mesoamerican & South American Societies
Characteristics of a Civilization
1. Live in cities
2. Well organized government
3. Different social classes
4. Complex religion
5. Some form of record keeping
OLMEC
Earliest known civilization in the Americas Lived around Gulf of Mexico in modern day
Mexico Achievements:
1. Use of stone:- massive stone heads- 1st pyramids in America
2. Calendar
MAYA
Lived in the rainforests of present day Guatemala & Mexico Clear social hierarchy:
1. Priests
2. Nobles – warriors & government officials
3. Laborers & farmers
4. Slaves – POWs & criminals
MAYA continued
• Achievements:
1. Astronomy – 365 day calendar
2. Math – system of numbers w/ concept of zero
3. Built large cities• Around 900AD abandoned their temples and cities
• About 2 million people still speak Mayan languages today in Guatemala & Mexico
AZTEC
Once nomadic Settled around Lake Texcoco in Central Mexico created capital city of Tenochtitlan on island
– Built causeways to connect island to mainland VERY rich society because of trade & conquest Priests studied heavens
– Created calendar to tell when to plant & harvest crops– Did rituals to please gods– SUN GOD – battled across the heavens to rise every morning –
Aztec’s were the “Warriors of the Sun”– Gave human sacrifices to get the sun to rise every day
AZTEC continued
Social hierarchy:1. Emperor2. Priests/nobles3. Warriors4. Merchants/artisans5. Farmers6. Slaves
INCA
Settled in Andes Mountains– Western coast of South America – about 2500 miles– Capital – holy city of Cuzco
Strong central government– Emperor known as Sapa Inca – considered a god
Ruled over 12 million people– Used governors to go out into empire to make sure people were working for
the state Highways
– Paved roads
INCA continued
Record keeping – quipu Achievements:
1. Known for building and art- built stone temples using only human labor,
ropes and wooded rollers- Terraces – wide steps made into the land