Life in the Western Hemisphere Chapter 1 Life in the Western Hemisphere

L1 Migration to the Americas

vocabulary Ice Age glacier migrate theory artifact archaeologist

Moving into the Americas People moved or relocated about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago By land Bering Straight Land bridge land theory People (hunters) migrated maybe to follow mammoths & caribou By Sea boat theory

1st Americans The first Americans migrated throughout North American and South America They adapted (changed) their ways of living to meet the challenges of different environments

Ways of Life for Early Americans Life was a struggle They lived in small groups Life centered on hunting They depending on wandering herds of animals for food

Earliest People – left no written record of how they lived, so we have to look at clues they left behind Artifact – an object that someone made in the past such as tools Archaeologists – people who study artifacts and draw conclusions about how people used to live

Changing Way of Life About 10,000 years ago the Ice Age gradually ended and the climate became warmer Glaciers melted Animals became extinct The first Americans had to find new food sources They began to hunt for smaller animals They became hunger-gatherers and collected nuts and berries They moved with the seasons

L2 Early American Cultures

vocabulary ceremony mesa drought

The Mound Builders Most lived east of the Mississippi River 3 main groups Adena, Hopewell, Mississippians Purpose of mounds Burial places To honor animal spirits Where ceremonies were held

The Anasazi (ahn uh SAH zee) Lived in Southwest & adapted to a hot/dry climate Were farmers Grew corn, squash, beans, pumpkins Dug ditches to carry water from streams and were the first to use irrigation Lived in permanent communities “Cliff Dwellers” Carved houses into cliffs or mesas Drought may have caused them to leave

The Inuit (IN oo it) lived in Canada today they make their homes near the Arctic Ocean near Alaska & Canada adapted to a cold climate & lived in igloos developed the kayak hunted whales, walruses, & seals

L3 The Rise of Empires Vocabulary civilization surplus specialize pyramid empire tribute slavery

The Maya Organized culture Interesting Facts Pyramids Government Religion Learning Studied moon, sun, stars 1st to use # zero Successful farmers Grew a surplus (more food than needed) Extra food was traded for needs Specialized skills Builders Stone carving Basket Weaving Jewelry making Interesting Facts Pyramids Writing – recorded history Descendants of the Maya continue to live in Mexico and Central America

The Aztecs & the Inca Built Tenochtitlan Worshipped many gods Sent armies to conquer other peoples in the Valley of Mexico Created huge empire Forced people to pay tribute Forced conquered people into slavery

Review Ch 1 Why did hunters cross the land bridge? How did the Anasazi grow crops in a dry land? How did the Aztec Empire grow? How did the first people in America obtain food? Describe early cultures that developed in America. What are the three powerful civilizations that grew in Mexico and Central America? How did specialization help civilizations develop?