The Original Americans

Approximately 30,000 years B.C.E. “Highways” of Migration

The Paleolithic and Archaic Eras Paleolithic: ca BCE to 9000 BCE Hunter-gatherers, nomadic lifestyle Archaic: Environmental Transitions Domesticated Agriculture Semi-Nomadic & Sedentary Societies

The Formative Era ca years in duration—through 200 AD Types of social organization The Olmecs  San Lorenzo  La Venta  Characteristics  Legacy The Decline: after 200 BCE

Olmec Artifacts

“Classic” Era Societies Teotihuacán  The city  The population  Three types of empire military commercial cultural & religious  The end of the city

Teotihuac á n

Teotihuac á n — Pyramid of the Sun

Teotihuac á n — Pyramid of the Moon

Teotihuac á n — The Avenue of the Dead

Monte Albán in the Classic Era The Zapotecs Relations with Teotihuacán Social hierarchy The role of violence and the military

Monte Alb á n

The Classic Maya Traits of Maya Civilization Older Perceptions of the Maya Regions and Polities The End of the Classic Era, ca. 900 CE  What Happened? Various Theories

Maya Hieroglyphs

Maya Hieroglyph (Detail)

Chichen Itza

Palenque

Palenque (Carving Detail)