The Founding, Invading, Conquering and Settling of the “New World” 1450-1775

Pangaea: 225 million years ago

The Breakup/Continental Drift

Peopling the Continent Where did they come from? Northeastern Asia About 15,000 years ago 13,000 B.C. Across the Bering Strait Continued south following food sources & settling Another argument is being made that original inhabitants of the Americas started in Central America (coming from African descent) & then interspersed with the Asians that came over creating the Native American tribes in North America

Mesoamerica Cultures of Ancient Mexico Olmecs 1200 BC to 400 BC Ceremonial centers/Ritual statues Decline between 900 BC and 400 BC

Mayan civilization A.D. 200 Southern Mexico Built spectacular cities Hierarchal society King Nobles Merchants & Artisans Peasantry Religion Writing/Math/Calendars

The Aztecs Aztec Empire 1325-1500 Central Mexico The Incas Inca Empire 1440-1524 Peru, South America

North American Civilizations The Cliff Dwellers The Anasazi The Pueblo ? – 1450 Four Corners-Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah The Mound Builders The Adena and the Hopewell 500 BC – 400 AD The Mississippian Cultures 800AD - discovery Cahokia Mounds

Worlds Collide European explorers claimed to have found a “new world” when they arrived in the Western hemisphere but it was only “new” to “old European eyes” It is estimated that some 45 million Native Americans claimed the “new world” as their land for over 9,500 years