1. Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491
Mr. Miller
7th Grade Social Studies
Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491

2. Introduction
First Americans Migrated here 15,000-35,000 years ago
America 3 types of societies emerged:
Sedentary: Stays put (agriculture)
Semi-sedentary: Moves with animal herds
Non-sedentary: Hunter/gatherers

3. Overview We will discuss: Mesoamerica Maya Inca Aztec Pueblo
Other various civilizations

4. Native America, AD 1492
This is what we refer to as the “New World”

5. History How old was the “New World?”
Recent discoveries have shown that civilization in the America’s began earlier than anyone thought.
Just as old as the first civilizations in Europe, Asia, and Egypt

6. Interesting Facts
It is often said that agriculture began about 11,000 years ago in the Middle East by the Sumerians, creating our “first” civilizations.
Civilizations of America emerged about 3,500 years ago. Or so we thought!!!

7. Who were the first “Americans”
Archaeologists, who study ancient people and civilizations, are finding signs of the first American’s presence before 10,000 BC or 12,000 years ago.
Like the mummy makers in the Atacama Desert (South America)

8. America’s first Urban Complex, 3000-1800 BC
Radiocarbon dating suggests a possibility that the people of Norte Chico (Peru) were building pyramids before the ancient Egyptians.
Large homes were discovered dated around 2600 BC

9. Genetic Engineering In the United States maize is called “corn”
Was created 6,000 years ago
11,500 years ago, Americans were living in caves. They were hunters.
Over the next 2000 years animals became scarce.
They turned to plants for food!

10. Genetic Engineering When you think of corn, you see yellow kernels.
Maize, in fact, can be red, blue, yellow, orange, black, pink, purple, creamy white, and even multicolored.
Maize was the size of a baby’s hand, with kernels no bigger than grains of rice.

11. Genetic Engineering
“Corn” descended from its closest relative, teosinte, a wild mountain grass.

12. Olmec - - The Big Stone Head
In 1938, a big stone head was discovered in Veracruz, Mexico.
Referred to as the “mother culture”

13. Olmec - - The Big Stone Head
Nobody knows what the Olmec called themselves, but it wasn’t “Olmec.” - - “people of the land of rubber.”
Thought to have invented rubber.
Were an agricultural people.
Most known for constructing giant stone heads!

14. Olmec Scultpture
Found in 1938 in Tres Zapotes, Mexico

15. Maya After the Olmec, Mesoamerica was ruled by the Maya peoples.
Made many advances in art and architecture.
Built Large cities, that included giant temples, shrines, marketplaces, and courts for games.
At the height of their reign, the disappeared…..Just like that!

16. Ancient Mayan Calendar
Previously thought to predict the end of the world on December 21, 2012……WRONG

17. Aztec
Lived in the capital city Tenochtitlan, located on an island in Lake Texcoco.
The city was built on logs and mud, and is said to have had a population of 140,000.
Aztec used communities under a single government.
Had military alliances and warfare to control the weaker communities.
In war they would take prisoners to use for Human sacrifice.

18. Jaguar Warrior
Look at his “uniform” and weapon of choice.

19. Inca - - AD 1300- AD1500 Lived in what is now Peru, South America
Created a vast civilization with over 10 million inhabitants.
United under a set of laws.
Created a political system, early clock, calendar, and a road system that ran the entire Pacific coast.

20. Macchu Picchu
Incan lived on Mountains, and practice terraced farming

21. Pueblo In Modern day Arizona and New Mexico
Used irrigation to build farms in the desert.
Lived in mud-brick homes under steep mountain cliffs.
Provided shade from the sun and protection from enemies.

22. Pueblo at Mesa Verde

23. Questions & Answers
Invite questions from the audience