1. Chapter 1 The World Before 1500
Section 1:
Societies of the Americas

2. Background Vocabulary
Migrate: to move from one region to another
Society: a group of people with common interests, customs, and way of life
Civilization: complex society in which many people share key characteristics such as language and religion

3. The First People in America
Migrated from Asia across land bridge about 15 – 35 thousand years ago.
Between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska

4. Different Ways of Life
Sedentary Societies: permanent towns or villages. Streets, large farms and hundreds of homes
Non-sedentary societies: created temporary camps that could be easily moved in a continual search for good weather and food.

5. First Large Civilizations in the Americas
Mesoamerica:
Olmec and Mayans were gone by 1492
Aztec Empire (Mexico)
Inca Empire (South America)

6. Native North Americans (just a few)
Inuit – (Alaska): mostly hunted whales and seals for food and clothing
Pueblo (New Mexico) – used irrigation and built large brick apartments
Iroquois and Algonquin (Atlantic and Great Lakes) – utilized slash and burn to clear land for villages and hunting.