Americas

North and South America connected by the isthmus of Panama Isthmus: narrow piece of land that joins 2 larger pieces of land. North America separated from Asia by the Bering strait. Strait: narrow piece of water that joins two larger bodies of water.  

Geography Long chain of mountains runs N-S down both continents: Rockies – in North America Sierra Madre – Mexico Andes – South America Major River Systems Mississippi – North America Amazon – South America

Today there is water between Asia and Alaska Today there is water between Asia and Alaska. It is called the Bering Strait.

During the last ice age, Asia and Alaska were connected by dry land. Why? During the last ice age, much water was frozen up in glaciers, so there was less liquid water in the ocean and the ocean level was lower. So there was dry ground where there is water today. A “land bridge”, called Beringia, was exposed where the Bering Strait is now

Between 35,000-8000 years ago, the early people probably crossed Beringia from Asia to America, on foot.

First people were nomadic hunters who lived by hunting large ice-age mammals, including mammoths & mastodons It is probably that they were migrating because they were following herds of great ice age mammals Came in waves, not all at once

. Many scientists think some followed a coastal route, and others migrated south through an “ice free corridor”. Some migrated into the central and eastern parts of North America, Some migrated farther south & settled in Central America Some kept going and settled in South America

11,000 years ago, there was global warming as the ice age ended Many large mammals became extinct in the Americas, including mammoths, mastodons, and early horses and camels. People turned more to plant food as the large mammals died out.

The Neolithic Revolution was the invention of farming—the change from living by hunting and gathering, to growing crops and herding animals

People in the Middle East were the first to begin farming People in the Middle East were the first to begin farming. They began farming about 11,000 years ago (9000BC) Farming was developed independently in the Americas about 7000 years ago (5000BC) In the Americas, the Neolithic Revolution (invention of farming) happened first in Mexico.

Most scholars think that the first domesticated crop was maize (corn), which was domesticated from a wild grass called teocinte. Some scholars think that squash was the first domesticated crop in the Americas.

In Mexico and other parts of North America, the main crops became maize (corn), beans & squash. Cacao was also widely grown. In the Andes Mountains of South America (Peru) the most important crop was the potato

Perhaps for this reason, Native Americans never invented: Native Americans did not have large, strong mammals, like oxen and horses, that could be easily domesticated. Perhaps for this reason, Native Americans never invented: the plow wheeled vehicles Metal tools or weapons

When they began farming, people settled, population increased Villages and towns grew in some places.

SECTION 2 In general, the cultures of the Native Americans north of the Rio Grande (border between U.S. & Mexico) were less advanced and sophisticated than the Native American cultures south of the Rio Grande, in Mexico, Central America and South America. However, there was much to admire.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST Pacific North West Probably fared the best of any western Group Relied on fishing, including hunting for whales in large canoes Totem poles – great wood carvings that represented the clan’s history & ancestry Potlatches – celebrations in which the chief would display goods and give them away to guests

SOUTHWEST Hohokam people very early people of the southwest who lived in what is now the state of Arizona. They may have appeared about 300BC-500AD; farmed, built irrigation networks; the raised corn & beans Around 1300sAD-1400sAD, they abandoned their communities because of climate change

Southwest Anasazi & Pueblos Farmed, used irrigation, raised corn & beans Permanent homes of adobe, dried brick Some built large cliff dwellings

Anasazi Cliff dwelling

GREAT PLAINS Although some farmed, many were nomadic hunters; They mainly hunted buffalo “Jump & kill” method Had no horses; hunted on foot; dogs pulled sledges to carry goods How they used buffalo: meat, hides to make clothing & tepees; dried excrement used as fuel; bone: used for tools

How they used buffalo: meat, hides to make clothing & tepees; dried dung used as fuel; bone used for tools

Jump and Kill

EASTERN WOODLANDS Hopewell Ohio valley, 200BC Mound builders, some in shapes; example-“Great Serpent Mound” Grizzly bear teeth (Rocky mountains) & shark teeth (Gulf Coast) show trade show far-flung trade.

Great Serpent Mound

EASTERN WOODLANDS Mississippians Flourished 700AD-1550AD Along Mississippi & several hundred miles east, including Western Alabama Farmed; Corn, beans & squash Complex culture with large settlements around ceremonial mounds Some large enough to be considered cities. Largest: Cahokia (located in Illinois) about 30,000 people between 1050AD-1250AD

Moundville, AL

Cahokia had about 30,000 people from 1050-1250AD.