1. Unit 1:Native Americans - Earliest Americans

2. Bell Ringer:
Thinking back to World History, where did the first civilization rise and what was the name of it?

3. Earliest Americans Arrival of human population
20, ,000 years ago
Ice Age revealed the Bering land bridge that connected Asia to North America
Hunters followed animal herds and settled throughout the Americas

4. Earliest Americans Characteristics of the first Americans
very diverse (different)
hundreds of tribes with diff languages and lifestyles
nomads: moved around (followed animal herds)
some settled… how did they get food?

5. Earliest Americans Development of maize aka corn
domesticated in Mesoamerica and spread throughout the continent
allowed people to settle in an area and rely on farms for food
what happens to the population when there is plenty of food for everyone (aka a food surplus)?
populations grew!
led to the development of cities and complex societies

6. Maya The Maya civilization
Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula), Central America
2000 BCE
diet: maize, beans, squash
religion: polytheistic (many gods), most based on nature
many different languages
developed calendars and writing system
practiced animal and human sacrifice

7. Maya Ancient Maya 101: https://youtu.be/Q6 eBJjdca14 Downfall:
War, Volcano, Over Population???
They disappeared into the jungles and abandoned their cities.

8. Aztec The Aztec Empire Central Mexico 14th - 16th centuries
capital: Tenochtitlan (later Mexico City)
conquered surrounding people
tribute system
population: 5-6 mil at height
religion: polytheistic (many gods)
similar to Mayans, but not the same
one language
strict class structure (w/ King at top)
writing, calendars, sacrifice

9. Aztec The Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan and the Coming of the Spanish:
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Downfall:
Hernando Cortes

10. Tenochtitlan

11. Inca Inca Empire Western coast of S. America (Ecuador to Chile)
13th century
capital: Cusco (in Peru)
population: 20 mil (?) at height
religion: polytheistic
one language, with hundreds of variations
no written language
class structure: emperor, nobles, peasants

12. Inca The Rise and Fall of the Inca Empire:
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Downfall:
Francisco Pizarro

13. terrace farming

14. Mayan Glyph Writing Activity

15. Exit Ticket
What do the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the Incas all have in common?
complex, well-organized societies