The Earliest Americans: Before the Europeans Arrived Pre-Columbian Era “While technically referring to the era before Christopher Columbus' voyages of 1492 to 1504, in practice the term usually includes the history of American indigenous cultures until they were conquered or significantly influenced by Europeans, even if this happened decades or even centuries after Columbus' initial landing.”

The Pre-Columbian Story Inadequate written records exist. Spanish explorers and conquerors damaged what little written evidence existed in their attempt to weaken native beliefs. Knowledge can be reconstructed only from bits and scraps of tools, bones, pots, graves, weapons, and garbage. Francisco Pizarro

The People Who Met Columbus The people we call “Native Americans” arrived in North America about 20,000 years ago (still debated) These Native Americans crossed Beringia, a land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska (theory) They were of Oriental stock, mingled with some traces of European and African blood (theory) Settlement occurred slowly, reaching the tip of South America about 10,000 years ago. Chief Agüeybana greeting Juan Ponce de León in Puerto Rico

Before the Agricultural Revolution Early Native Americans were seed gatherers and game hunters. They lived in bands of 20 to 50 people. Gradually diets diversified to include small animals such as raccoons and opossums, as well as seafood. Folsom projectile point Clovis projectile point

Before the Agricultural Revolution continued... As the Ice age retreated and the continent dried, great forests grew in the east and north of North America The bow and arrow aided in the hunting of small animals. Hooks and nets caught fish and snared ducks. Desert natives relied increasingly on plants, ground seeds, berries, bulbs, and nuts.

The Agricultural Revolution About 7000 years ago American natives, like peoples elsewhere in the world, developed agriculture. Plant domestication developed first in the Mexican highlands, and then spread north and south. The degree to which this revolution had developed among the North American natives varied widely at the time of European contact. Hundreds of tribes speckled the continent, separating into numerous linguistic and cultural groups.

North American Peoples Moctezuma II Mesoamerica: Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Taino -developed advanced agricultural practices based primarily on the cultivation of maize - populations grew quite large and they built elaborate cities - made accurate astronomical observations - Aztecs practiced human sacrifice Tenochtitlán (Aztec Capital City) Human sacrifice- Codex Magliabechiano

Timeline about 20,000 to 50,000 years ago - First Native Americans cross land bridge from Siberia 5,000 B.C.- Corn is developed as a staple crop in highland Mexico 1200 B.C.- Corn planting reaches present day American Southwest 500 A.D.- Pueblo culture develops in southwestern United States 1000 A.D.- Norse voyagers discover and briefly settle in northeastern North America 1100 A.D.- Height of Mississippian settlement at Cahokia and Christian crusades arouse European interest in the East 1295 A.D. Marco Polo returns to Europe