Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Civilizations of Early America
2
- Migration during last Ice Age - Beringia land bridge Global Warming
Middle America Geography - 30,000 years ago - Migration during last Ice Age - Beringia land bridge Global Warming Earth warmed Killed off large animals (mammoth)
3
Agricultural Revolution
Cultivate land Domesticate Animals Farmed since large animals died Corn, beans, tomatoes, squash South America - llama Farms led to villages and cities (Civilization)
4
Olmecs Oldest known civilization Lead by priests, very religious
Calendar, writing, temples
5
Maya Temples and Palaces Largest City - Tikal
Huge Pyramids for burial or sacrifice Covered in carvings = historical record
6
Social Classes Ruling Chief in each city
Nobles – military, government officials Priests – great power, elaborate ceremonies Farmers
7
Advances in Learning hieroglyphic writing system, books
accurate calendars, numbers, zero Astronomy
8
Decline 900 A.D. – left cities No known reason for leaving
Still exist in Central America
9
The Mayans Video
10
Aztec Culture Teotihuacán large, well planned city in Mexico Valley
temples, wide roads, apartment buildings
11
Arrival of the Aztecs “Eagle perched atop a cactus holding a snake in its beak” Built Tenochtitlan in middle of a lake, present Mexico City Chinampas – floating garden Filled in lake and built canals Conquering an Empire War and Alliances – 30 million people in 1500 Tribute – payment from conquered people
12
The World of the Aztecs Government and Society
One ruler of whole empire Nobles, Warriors, Commoners, Slaves Ruler Nobles Warriors Commoners Slaves
14
Religious Beliefs Chief God Huitzilopochtli
battled each night, reborn in the morning No guarantee the sun would rise so– Sacrifice 1000s, mostly prisoners Always at war = more sacrifices Rebellion and discontentment
15
Education and Learning
Priests wrote all history Taught noble’s children Medical advancements – herbs and steam
16
The World of the Incas Early People of Peru Western South America
Andes, Jungle 200 kinds of potatoes
17
Chavin 850 BC – earliest culture Stone carvings and pottery Fierce god – Jaguar/Human Mochica North coast of Peru Skilled Farmers Artistic – cloth, pottery, gold Nazca Glyph – pictograph carved in to a surface Huge pictures from the air No idea what purpose was
19
The Incan Empire Government Pachacuti – founder of Incas
Hierarchy of rule Quipu – set of colored, knotted strings for keeping records
20
Roads and Runners Quechua – language 12,000 miles of road
bridges and steps Runners delivered messages all over empire Regular people couldn’t use roads
21
Daily Life Farming Metalworking Step terraces
All land belonged to Emperor Took food and divided among population Metalworking best metalworkers in the Americas Alloy – blend of metals
22
Daily Life Medical Advances Religion Surgery on Skull
could put people to sleep Religion polytheistic Inti – sun god, most important god “Chosen Women” served the gods Many festivals
24
Peoples of North America
The Desert Southwest Hohokams = “Vanished Ones” Gila River, Arizona Temple mounds, ball courts, irrigation
25
Anasazi Four corners region Cliff Dwellings Pueblos – large villages
Crescent-shaped compounds raising 5 stories Kiva – large underground chamber. Anasazi Cliff Dwellings built into side of canyon wall Up to 200 rooms Left due to drought
27
The Mound Builders - Mississippi and Ohio Valley
Adena and Hopewell Indians Great Serpent Mounds – ¼ mile
28
Cahokia 40,000 people 60 mounds Houses of rulers and temples on top Heirs of the Mound Builders Mississippians didn’t leave a record Disappeared by the time Europeans came
29
Diverse Regional Cultures
10 Culture areas based on environment Artic, Subartic, Northwest Coast, California, Great Basin, Plateau, Southwest, Great Plains, Eastern Woodlands, Southeast Adapted to region
30
A Frozen World Inuits Sea animals, kayaks, igloos
31
A Land of Plenty Northwest coast hunters Potlatch – Trading ceremony
32
The Iroquois League Eastern Woodlands
Constant warfare lead to an alliance Five nations Started just as Europeans showed up
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.