1. Introducing Early America

2. How/When/Why people came to the Americas? People came from Asia over the land-bridge known as BERINGIA. ( any other explanations?) Occurred at the end of the last ice age, approx. 1.9 million to 10,000 BC. Siberian hunters followed the animals who migrated Debated Information : how and when, so much depends on archeological data…still finding new evidence.

3. Lifestyle of early Americans Hunter-Gatherers. (The mammoth weighed 7 tons, provided tons of resources) Nomadic End of the ice-age, 10 – 12,000 years ago meant end of travel over Beringia.

4. Change in lifestyle  Agriculture Occurs ca. 7000 BC in central Mexico. By 3400 BC Maize/Corn most important crop. Slash & Burn techniques “Floating gardens” (Chinampas) as new farming method: islands created in the middle of swamps/lakes….led to 3 harvests in one year.

5. Slash & Burn

6. Chinampas

7. Terracing (Cajete Terraces) Ancient Mesoamerican societies constructed these “catches” to stop the water from heavy rain from eroding soil and crops off the slopes. They also would store water after the rain.

8. More Food = Civilization Grows Provide a list of effects farming has on a community