Native Americans Core Lesson 1 Pages 38-43

Ancient Americans 2 theories of how people came to Americas: By boat along coast By a land bridge between Asia and North America Ice Age – period in history when glaciers covered half the world. Glacier – Huge, thick sheet of slowly moving ice. Beringia – Land bridge formed between Alaska and Asia Hunters followed animals over Beringia into North America. This is known as migration (movement from one region to another). Ice age ended 10,000 years ago when glaciers melted. Beringia was covered and formed the Bering Strait. Read pages 38-39 – Discuss this slide.

Paleo-Indians People who migrated into North and South America. Lived by hunting large animals until they began to die out Hunted smaller animals, fished, and gathered wild plants Began using agriculture to feed themselves, changed the way the paleo Indians lived; could stay in one place. Agriculture – Farming or growing plants A civilization grew Civilization- A group of people living together who have systems of government, religion, and culture. Read page 40 – discuss this slide

The Mound Builders Adena, Hopewell and Mississippians – first to create large, complex villages in North America. Became known as the Mound Builders. Began about 3,000 years ago and lasted about 2500 years. Built giant mounds out of earth to bury dead, jewelry, tools, pottery. Cahokia, Illinois – famous for mounds Adena and Hopewell – Ohio River Valley Mississippians – Lower Mississippi Valley, most of South-east, and as far north as Wisconsin. Read page 41 – Discuss this slide

Adena and Hopewell Mississippians

Ancient Pueblo Peoples Resided in what is now the Southwest Pueblo: Spanish word for town Built houses out of mud and stone; allowed houses to be on top of one another (like apartments) Kivas – Rooms built for religious ceremonies Left villages around 1300 – Nobody knows why Could be lack of rain or wood Warfare with other people Descendants now live in Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico Page 42

The Aztecs Ruled Central Mexico for about 200 years, starting in 1300 Known for Calendar Large temples Tenochtitlànd – Aztec capital city Hundreds of buildings and roads Population of 250,000 people Page 43