The Earliest Americans Chapter 2 Section 1 The Earliest Americans

First Migration to the Americas 1st people arrived in North America during the last Ice Age Water froze into glaciers Ocean levels dropped and a bridge between northeast Asia and Alaska was exposed Bering Land Bridge People called Paleo-Indians crossed bridge into Alaska between 38,000 & 10,000 BC Nomadic Hunter-gatherers

The End of the Ice Age 8000 BC glaciers melted and water rose Covered land bridge Created new environments Influenced development of different Native American societies Planted & farmed Maize – corn Beans Squash Farming allowed people to stop moving & settle in one place

Early Mesoamerican & South American Societies

Characteristics of a Civilization Live in cities Well organized government Different social classes Complex religion Some form of record keeping

OLMEC Earliest known civilization in the Americas Lived around Gulf of Mexico in modern day Mexico Achievements: Use of stone: massive stone heads 1st pyramids in America Calendar

MAYA Lived in the rainforests of present day Guatemala & Mexico Clear social hierarchy: Priests Nobles – warriors & government officials Laborers & farmers Slaves – POWs & criminals

MAYA continued Achievements: Astronomy – 365 day calendar Math – system of numbers w/ concept of zero Built large cities Around 900AD abandoned their temples and cities About 2 million people still speak Mayan languages today in Guatemala & Mexico

AZTEC Once nomadic Settled around Lake Texcoco in Central Mexico created capital city of Tenochtitlan on island Built causeways to connect island to mainland VERY rich society because of trade & conquest Priests studied heavens Created calendar to tell when to plant & harvest crops Did rituals to please gods SUN GOD – battled across the heavens to rise every morning – Aztec’s were the “Warriors of the Sun” Gave human sacrifices to get the sun to rise every day

AZTEC continued Social hierarchy: Emperor Priests/nobles Warriors Merchants/artisans Farmers Slaves

INCA Settled in Andes Mountains Western coast of South America – about 2500 miles Capital – holy city of Cuzco Strong central government Emperor known as Sapa Inca – considered a god Ruled over 12 million people Used governors to go out into empire to make sure people were working for the state Highways Paved roads

INCA continued Record keeping – quipu Achievements: Known for building and art built stone temples using only human labor, ropes and wooded rollers Terraces – wide steps made into the land