The First Americans & European Traditions Chapter 1 Notes

The First Americans First people came to the Americas from Asia 1st THEORY Land Bridge Theory Land bridge that now lies under the Bering Strait Became exposed when many glaciers covered the earth

The First Americans 2nd THEORY 3rd THEORY Coastal Route Theory First people crossed the Arctic waters by boat 3rd THEORY Native Americans believed in the creation theory

The First Americans Learning to farm Earliest people were hunters and gatherers Large animals disappeared First farming took place in Mexico Some farmers had a surplus and began trading Farming communities grew into cities which became centers for government and religious life

Three Civilizations Mayas Aztecs Incas First great civilization Built cities with public plazas, pyramids, temples, ball courts, and palaces Aztecs Tenochtatlan- capital of Aztec empire Religion dominated Aztec life Prosperity depended on the good will of the gods Incas Cuzco- capital city of Inca empire Built a great network of roads

What is Culture? Culture means a way of life This includes traditions, religion, art, music, celebrations, etc. The world around us is full of many different cultures that we can all learn from

First Cultures of North America Mound Builders - various groups who constructed large piles of earth Dickson Mounds Mississippians - mound builders who built the first cities in North America Anasazi- built into large cliffs

For what purposes were the mounds built? Burial places and foundations for public buildings

Ways of Life Shared beliefs Close relationship to the natural world Believed spirits dwelled in nature and spirits were part of their daily lives Traditions reflected these beliefs Storytellers passed down traditions from one generation to the next

Native Americans of North America Far North Far West Used kayaks – boats made from skins Housing varied depending on geographic regions Hunters and gatherers Northwest Southwest Lived in permanent settlements Farmed and hunted

Native Americans of North America, cont. Great Plains Farmers Followed buffalo across the plains Eastern Woodlands Lived by farming, hunting, gathering, and fishing 2 main groups: Algonquian and Iroquois Iroquois women had great influence in their society 5 Iroquois nations formed a league called the League of the Iroquois

Native Americans of North America, cont. Southeast Farmers Built houses on wooden frames What challenges did those in the Far North and Southwest face for making a living? North = too cold for farming South = had to collect and store rain water for dry times

What of the regions do you think Illinois is in? Great Plains

Greek and Roman Traditions Roman government and law gave citizens individual rights defined out to them Formed a republic and were able to vote and choose representatives to govern them. U.S. founders used this same set up when they began America

Judeo-Christian Tradition European beliefs & values were shaped by two religions Judaism Christianity Judaism – first major religion to teach monotheism Belief in only one god

Judeo-Christian Tradition, cont. Christianity – started by a Jewish teacher known as Jesus through his life and teachings Romans viewed Christianity as a political threat but later embraced it and it became the main religion in Europe and the Roman Empire.

The Muslim Link in Trade Islam – started by a man named Muhammad Followers are called Muslims Qur’an (Holy Book) Arab scholars made great advances in astrology and were able to measure the Earth, proving it to be a sphere.

Old Testament (Judaism) Together, what are these three religions called? The Abrahamic Religions New Testament (Christianity) Qur'an (Islam)

Catholic Church Catholic Church was the power which controlled almost all European governments No such thing as a separation of Church from State. Most people were illiterate; Priests would be educated and they told the masses what God and The Bible expected of them.

New Horizons Life started to revolve around the Catholic Church Pope Urban II started Crusades (“holy wars”) to reclaim the “Holy Land” (Jerusalem) from Muslim conquerors. Each Crusade failed but Europe was exposed to new cultures due to the wars between Christians and Muslims

African Link in Trade Trade network linked Europe, Africa, & Asia Africa became the most powerful trading center Most powerful was Zimbabwe Slave trading became popular

East Asian Link in Trade Asia became the technology center of the time Printing with moveable type Gun powder Magnetic compass & navigation methods

East Asian Link in Trade, cont. Most populated country at the time was China Hangzhou– was the world’s largest city by the 1200’s Key trade route the Silk Road Series of great trade routes that stretched 5,000 miles

New Beginnings The Renaissance – “rebirth” of learning – caused a great flood of education and culture into European society Started becoming interested in exploring the New World for trade, etc.

Reformation Group of Catholics wanted to change the abuses of the Catholic Church…they protested the Pope. Pope didn’t appreciate it, as you might imagine. Church split into “Catholics” and “Protestants”…this will seriously impact the settlement of North America by European Powers.