Chapter 1 Lesson 2 Early American Cultures

The Mound Builders Cahokia mounds near St. Louis, MO Great Serpent Mound in Ohio

Why did the Mound Builders build mounds? The Mound Builders built earth mounds called earthworks. Some mounds were used as graves. Other mounds were used as platforms for ceremonies, temples and palaces. Some mounds were simply religious symbols.

The Mound Builders were well-organized. What tells us this? Trade was important to the builders. How can we know this? Archaeologists study artifacts from the mounds. These artifacts tell us…

The Anasazi

What may have caused the Anasazi to abandon their villages? What do we know about the Anasazi people? The Anasazi lived in the Southwest in an area today called the “Four Corners.” Why is called that? What enabled the Anasazi to grow crops in a dry region? They sometimes carved homes into the sides of cliffs. Sometimes they built apartment-style buildings several stories high on the top of mesas. What is a mesa? What may have caused the Anasazi to abandon their villages?

The Inuit Like the ancient peoples who crossed the land bridge over the Bering Strait during the Ice Age, the Inuit also came to North America from Asia, but much later. When? 2500 years ago Inuit reached Alaska from Asia 3000 years ago American Indian groups began building mounds in eastern North America 2000 years ago The Anasazi culture developed in the Southwest

Inuit Culture What do you think Inuit people need to have and be good at to survive? What do you think the Inuit people are not able to do on the frozen lands near the Arctic Ocean?

Group Discussion Compare and contrast the cultures of the Mound Builders, Anasazi, and the Inuit.