1. 9 The Americas: A Separate World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700
QUIT 9
CHAPTER
The Americas: A Separate
World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700
Chapter Overview
Time Line
SECTION 1
Hunters and Farmers in the Americas
SECTION 2
Early Mesoamerican Civilizations
SECTION 3
Early Civilizations of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
Visual Summary

2. 9 The Americas: A Separate World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700
HOME 9
CHAPTER
The Americas: A Separate
World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700
Chapter Overview
Human settlement of the Americas begins toward the end of the last Ice Age. The first civilizations emerge in Mexico and Peru. The Olmec, Zapotec, Chavín, Nazca, and Moche cultures strongly influence those that come after them.

3. 9 The Americas: A Separate World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700 HOME Time Line
CHAPTER
The Americas: A Separate
World, 40,000 B.C.–A.D. 700
Time Line
10,000 B.C. Last Ice Age ends; land bridge to Asia disappears.
1200 B.C. Olmec civilization emerges.
500 B.C. Zapotecs build Monte Albán.
A.D. 100 Moche culture emerges.
10,000 B.C.
A.D. 700
7000 B.C. Agriculture begins in central Mexico.
900 B.C. Chavín culture arises in Peru.
200 B.C. Nazca civilization arises in southern Peru.

4. Hunters and Farmers in the Americas Key Idea 1
HOME 1
Hunters and Farmers
in the Americas
Key Idea
More than 10,000 years ago, humans migrate from Asia to the Americas across a land bridge. Originally hunters and gatherers, these groups develop farming methods and create settlements.
Overview
Assessment

5. Hunters and Farmers in the Americas Overview 1 • Beringia • Ice Age
HOME 1
Hunters and Farmers
in the Americas
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Beringia
• Ice Age
• maize
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Although isolated, the first Americans developed in ways similar to the other earliest humans.
The Americas’ first inhabitants developed the basis for American civilizations to come.
Assessment

6. Hunters and Farmers in the Americas 1 1
HOME 1
Hunters and Farmers
in the Americas
Section 1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. The events listed below had important effects on the development of the Americas. Identify the main effects for each event.
Cause
Effects
Beringia land bridge forms.
Animals and hunters cross into North America.
Large animals become extinct.
Hunters turn to smaller prey and plants.
Early Americans experiment with farming.
Agriculture arises.
Crops provide a reliable food supply.
Population grows, and settled communities arise.
continued . . .

7. Hunters and Farmers in the Americas 1 1
HOME 1
Hunters and Farmers
in the Americas
Section 1
Assessment
2. Why do you think early Americans, isolated from the rest of the world, developed in ways similar to other early humans? THINK ABOUT
• similarities among all human beings
• availability of similar resources
• the development from hunting to farming
ANSWER
Possible Response:
Early humans used easily available food sources first. These included wild animals that could be hunted. When hunters could no longer rely on big game, they developed other more complex ways of getting food, such as farming.
continued . . .

8. Hunters and Farmers in the Americas 1 1
HOME 1
Hunters and Farmers
in the Americas
Section 1
Assessment
3. What type of person might hold power in a hunter-gatherer society? in a settled, agricultural society?
THINK ABOUT
• qualities needed to succeed in a hunting society
• qualities most admired in a settled, farming society
ANSWER
Possible Response:
Authority in a hunting society might be based on physical strength and courage; authority in a settled society might be based on strong administrative skills.
End of Section 1

9. Early Mesoamerican Civilizations Key Idea 2
HOME 2
Early Mesoamerican
Civilizations
Key Idea
The first civilization in the Americas, the Olmec, emerges in southeastern Mexico around 1200 B.C., followed by the Zapotec of the Oaxaca Valley. Both cultures influence later civilizations.
Overview
Assessment

10. Early Mesoamerican Civilizations Overview 2 • Mesoamerica • Olmec
HOME 2
Early Mesoamerican
Civilizations
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Mesoamerica
• Olmec
• Zapotec
• Monte Albán
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The Olmec created the Americas’ first civilization, which in turn influenced later civilizations in the region.
Later American civilizations relied on the technology and achievements of earlier cultures to move forward.
Assessment

11. Early Mesoamerican Civilizations 2 2
HOME 2
Early Mesoamerican
Civilizations
Section 2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Compare the Olmec and Zapotec cultures.
Olmec
Zapotec
Both
Ritual ball games
magnificent sculptures,
jaguar worship
Pyramids, giant plazas
Major urban center,
hieroglyphic language,
calendar
continued . . .

12. Early Mesoamerican Civilizations 2 2
HOME 2
Early Mesoamerican
Civilizations
Section 2
Assessment
2. Why do you think the Olmec are called Mesoamerica’s “mother culture”? Consider the Olmec’s influence on later groups in the region. THINK ABOUT
• architecture
• religion
• art
ANSWER
Possible Response:
The Olmec developed numerous institutions and styles that many later peoples of the region incorporated. These included Olmec sculpture and architecture styles, as well as the notion of ceremonial centers, ritual ball games, and an elite ruling class.
End of Section 2

13. Early Civilizations of the Andes Key Idea 3
HOME 3
Early Civilizations
of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
Key Idea
Andean civilization arises in the river valleys along the Peruvian coast. Around 900 B.C. the Chavín culture emerges in the mountains, followed by the coastal Nazca and Moche civilizations.
Overview
Assessment

14. Early Civilizations of the Andes Overview 3 • Chavín • Nazca • Moche
HOME 3
Early Civilizations
of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Chavín
• Nazca
• Moche
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Around the harsh terrain of the Andes Mountains in South America, various groups created flourishing civilizations.
Like the early Andean civilizations, people today must adapt to their environment in order to survive.
Assessment

15. Early Civilizations of the Andes 3 3
HOME 3
Early Civilizations
of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
Section 3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Identify important details about the earliest Andean civilizations.
Location
Time Span
Achievements
Culture
Chavín
Nazca
Moche
c. 900 B.C.
to 200 B.C.
northern and central Peruvian highlands
important religious centers;
influential art styles and religious images
c. 200 B.C.
to A.D.600
Peru’s southern coast
irrigation system, textiles, pottery, Nazca lines
c. A.D. 100
to A.D. 700
northern coast of Peru
irrigation systems, great wealth, elaborate pottery
continued . . .

16. Early Civilizations of the Andes 3 3
HOME 3
Early Civilizations
of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
Section 3
Assessment
2. Would the Chavín culture have been more influential if it had arisen along the Peruvian coast? Why or why not?
THINK ABOUT
• the harsh environment of the Andes Mountain region
• the effect of environment on the spread of culture
• the nature of Chavín influence
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
Yes. It might have been easier for the Chavín to spread their culture along the more hospitable coastal region.
No. The fact that people made the difficult pilgrimage to the site indicates the culture’s influence did not depend on location.
continued . . .

17. Early Civilizations of the Andes 3 3
HOME 3
Early Civilizations
of the Andes
IMAGE
GRAPH
Section 3
Assessment
3. Describe how the Nazca and the Moche adapted to their environment in order to build flourishing societies.
ANSWER
Possible Response:
To overcome their dry climate, the Nazca and Moche developed elaborate irrigation systems. This allowed them to farm the land.
End of Section 3