1. Ancient Americans
Section 1.1

2. Main Idea
People arrived on the American continents thousands of years ago and developed flourishing societies.

3. North America 1st Americans
Crossed over the Bering Strait over 8,000 years ago
Migrated during Ice Age
Spread all throughout North America, South America, and Caribbean
Nomads: moved form place to place.

4. Agricultural Revolution
10,000 to 4,000 BCE
Humans began developing systematic agriculture
Domestication of animals for food and labor
Cultivation of wild crops
Why would this change human life?

5. Answer Humans had limited control over their environment.
Humans could abandon their nomadic lifestyle.
Communities could develop.
A stable food supply = larger population
More free time to create and think

6. Cultures of Mesoamerica
The ancient civilizations of the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec developed sophisticated societies long before European contact. Each developed written language and complex social structures. Located in Mexico and Central America, their respective empires covered much land. All 3 civilizations created huge pyramids that still stand today.

8. Inca Dominated South America before European arrival.
Excellent engineers (created roads and cities).
Largest of all pre-Columbian Indian groups.

9. Incan City

10. Mound Builders Developed agriculture
Created hug earthen mounds for tombs
Lived from the great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico (Eastern US)
Also known as the Hopewell or Mississippian people

11. Serpent Mound

12. Mounds

13. Anasazi Southwest US (desert) Dug long canals to irrigate fields
Lived in pueblos, could be several stories high
Like most American Indians they farmed corn, beans, and squash.

14. Pueblo