America Before “Discovery” Prehistory to 1492 Columbus’s landing By: Mr. Michael R. Kahoe Del Valle High School

Asian Migration to America 100,000 years ago: Ice Age – much of the ocean water was frozen into huge ice sheets, or glaciers As it receded it exposed the Bering Strait Land Bridge a stretch of ocean floor that connected Asia to Alaska It is believed that nomads from Asia crossed this “bridge” from about 35,000 to 10,000 years ago, when the water levels rose again

Bering Strait Land Bridge

What were they following?

Big Game

Early American Civilizations Agricultural Revolution About 5,000 B.C. Native Americans learn how to plant and grow crops  Maize, beans & squash Mesoamerica Central America where large civilizations begin to emerge starting around 1500 B.C.  Olmec  Mayan  Aztec

Olmec First civilization in Mesoamerica The Olmec built large villages, temples and pyramids Also sculpted large monuments including 8 ft. tall heads Olmec culture lasted from 1500 B.C. – 300 B.C. Teotihuacán – first American city Olmec head

Mayan Mayan culture emerged around 200 A.D. in the Yucatan Peninsula Were talented engineers and mathematicians Developed accurate calendars Built large cities (Tikal & Chichén Itzá) Thrived until about 900 A.D. when cities were abandoned Invasion or over farming may have played a part Mayan Calendar Pyramid at Chichén Itzá

Aztec Developed around 1300 A.D. Established the city of Tenochtitlán, where Mexico City stands Created a mighty civilization by conquering their neighbors By 1500s roughly 5 million lived under Aztec rule Eagle perched on cactus Aztec warrior

The Anasazi One of the earliest North American cultures Anasazi means “Ancient people” in Navajo Flourished around A.D to 1300 Built large adobe-walled towns in remote areas Made artistic pottery and tightly woven baskets Often referred to as “The Basket Makers”

Anasazi Ruins

The Mound Builders Centered in Ohio River Valley Mounds took decades to build & were up to seven stories in height Surrounded by earthwork walls Cahokia was the largest town By A.D population was ~ 30,000  No other American town grew to that size until Philadelphia did 700 years later

Cahokia

More on American Indians Population of about 54 million Native Americans by the time Columbus arrives Around 250 different tribes at that time At least 2,000 different languages

Native American Tribes

First European Settlers The Vikings Raided Europe for about 300 yrs Looking for new lands to settle Erik the Red discovered Greenland and settled there in 985 A.D. 15 years later his son Leif Erickson landed in Newfoundland, Canada  Called the area Vinland

Christopher Columbus