Different Worlds Meet Unit 1

What we will learn... Who are the natives of Mesoamerica? Where did they settle? Why did these great empires fall? Who were the explorers from Eurasia and what were their motivations?

The First Americans There are a few different theories about where these first people came from...

Conflicting Theories Theory 1: People came across the Pacific Ocean from Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Phillippines by boat Theory 2: People came across the Atlantic Ocean by boat Theory 3: People crossed a land bridge from northern Asia into the Americas that was exposed during the last Ice Age

Since we have no written records to look at, how do archaeologists figure out which theory is correct? – Artifacts: tools, weapons, baskets, and carvings left behind Each theory has some support, but the most compelling argument is for...

#3: People crossed a land bridge (Beringia) from northern Asia into the Americas Ice Age: Period of extreme cold – Glaciers covered the Earth – Most recent ice age lasted from 100,000-12,000 years ago – Causes lower sea levels Which leads to? Land from underwater being exposed! Why doesnt this land bridge exist today? – About 15,000 years ago, global temperatures rose, causing the bridge to disappear back into the water, cutting off the first Americans

Who were these first people? Nomads: People who move from place to place – Where does their food come from? Hunting and Gathering Early Americans relied on large game (mammoth, bison, mastodons), but these animals began to die off About 9,000 years ago, people in what is today Mexico began to plant maize, pumpkins, beans, and squash What does farming allow these people to do?

New Skills! – Before farming, everyone had to focus on gathering food to survive – Now, some people can focus on gathering food while others focus on other needs of the group What does this sound like to you? Farming allows people to develop other skills – Pottery, Cloth – Permanent shelters made of clay, stone, or wood