THE EARLY AMERICANS AMERICAN HISTORY Mr. Lauta 1

THE EARLY AMERICANS While early humans have been around for a couple hundred thousand years, for most of their history they were not considered “civilized.” Early humans were not considered “civilized” 1

THE EARLY AMERICANS Early Americans originally lived in small groups and were nomadic; moving from one place to another and gathering nuts and berries in order to survive and hunting herds of animals. Early Americans were nomads searching and hunting for food. 2

THE EARLY AMERICANS Overpopulation may have diminished the food source, or natural disasters such as fire, drought, or flood may have made moving necessary. Overpopulation and natural disasters may have decreased the amount of food. 3

THE EARLY AMERICANS The Ice Age also caused humans to relocate. Huge populations had to move to warmer climates in order to survive. Eventually humans inhabited what is now North and South America. To survive the Ice Age, early humans relocated to the Americas. 4

THE EARLY AMERICANS Better tools enabled people to build better shelters, and improved weapons allowed humans to become more efficient hunters, so they did not need to move around as much. Improvements in tools and weapons ended their nomadic lifestyle. 5

THE EARLY AMERICANS Settlements sprang up, and many groups began to farm or grow their own food rather than hunt it. Settlements developed as humans began to farm. 6

THE EARLY AMERICANS Improved agricultural techniques eventually made it possible for humans to produce more food than they could consume. This allowed them to trade, build, create monuments, and invent new tools and weapons. Farming improvements produced more food and led to trade, construction, and inventions. 7

THE EARLY AMERICANS When people established cities, civilizations began to develop. This happened about 5,000 years ago. About 5,000 years ago, civilizations developed. 8

THE EARLY AMERICANS Culture, political and social development, and technological achievement are all characteristics of a civilization. Other characteristics include the invention of writing, mathematics, improved agricultural practices, sophisticated architecture, and trade. 9

THE EARLY AMERICANS Characteristics of a civilization include culture, political and social development, technology, writing, mathematics, farming, architecture, and trade. 9a

THE EARLY AMERICANS Accomplishments can be traced to one man. Others are traced back to groups of people or to a civilization. The accomplishments of past civilizations have shaped the world we live in today. Our lives are shaped by the accomplishments of men, groups of people, or a civilization. 10

NOT CIVILIZED?

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NOT CIVILIZED?