roots of the american people. section 1: earliest people
TRANSCRIPT
1st Americans
• Who were they? – Asians
• Where did they come from? • How did they reach the Americas?• 2 Theories– Land bridge• Bering Strait bridge (Siberia—Alaska)
– Coastal-Route
Who were these people? Why did they come to the Americas?
• Hunters – Followed large animals (wooly mammoth)– Supplied all needs from animals
• What happened when the large animals began to die out?– Environment Adaptation
• Gatherers– Traveled across lands– Searched for wild plants/small animals
Neolithic Revolution
• Environment adaptation does not stop– Neolithic Revolution occurs
• Technique of farming is developed– How does that affect society?
Affect of Farming on Society
FARMING
STOP TRAVELLING
GROW SURPLUS
ESTABLISH COMMUNITIES
BUILD CITIES
CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOPED
3 Early/Major Civilizations of Ancient America
• 1. Mayas– Where?
• Mexico and Central America
– When?• A.D. 250—A.D. 900
– What did the civilization look like?• Pyramids, plazas, temples, ball courts, palaces
– What advancements did they make?• Arts, government, written language, astronomy
– What happened to them?• No one truly knows• Cities abandoned
3 Early/Major Civilizations of Ancient America
• 2. Aztecs– Where?• Mexico• Capital city Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) built on a lake
– What did the civilization look like?• Very religious—many temples built for Aztec Gods• Human Sacrifice• Conquered/controlled large parts of Mexico• Obtained wealth from their conquered subjects
3 Early/Major Civilizations of Ancient America
• 3. Incas– Where?• South America—Andes Mountains• Capital City Cuzco: linked to other cities by network of
roads
– What was the civilization like?• Buildings made of immaculate carved stone• Intelligent engineers• Skilled in metalwork/weavings• Vast amount of gold and silver
Early peoples of North America• Civilizations in North America– Mound Builders• Where?
– Lived in the vast region from Appalachian Mts. and Mississippi Valley
– Multitude of different tribes
• Purpose of Mounds– Burial grounds or public buildings
• Who were these people?– Largest group: Mississippians
Early peoples of North America
• Anasazi– Where?• Southern Utah, Colorado, Northern Arizona, New
Mexico
– What was civilization like?• Large cliff dwellings• Made pottery, jewelry, baskets• Heavy traders
– What happened to them?• Homes were eventually abandoned
Early peoples of North America
• Hohokam– Where?• Arizona
– When?• Reigned from B.C. 300—A.D. 1450
– What was the civilization like?• Skilled farmers, mastered irrigation• Heavy traders
Living as a Native in North America
• Lived in areas called culture areas – Populations grew larger in farming areas
• Basic needs– Women were collectors– Men were hunters
• Tools– Developed from sticks, animal bones, rocks, and shells
• Beliefs– Focused on a relationship with nature– Established own creation stories
Culture Areas of North America
• Far North– 2 Regions:• Arctic:
– cold, ice covered ground all year– No cities– Hunted whale, seal, walruses in winter, caribou in summer
• Subarctic– Dense forests– Too cold for farming– Hunted to survive
Culture Areas of North America
• Northwest– Alaska down into northern California– Land filled with plentiful amount of food– Large cities developed despite no farming
Culture Areas of North America• Far West: Consists of 3 regions
– 1. California– 2. Great Basin– 3. Plateau
• Northern region– Harsh winters, forest and grassland
• Southern region– Desert like lifestyle
• California region– Warm summers, mild winters, abundant food
• Housing– Pit houses– Coned bark– Wooden plank
Culture Areas of North America
• Southwest– Arizona, New Mexico,
southern Utah, and Colorado– Mostly dry: few rainy seasons– Farming took place with
irrigation, some hunting/gathering
– Pueblos were successful homes
Culture Areas of North America
• Great Plains– Large region located between Mississippi River
and Rocky Mts.• Eastern part
– farmers, women were the planters– Earth homes
• Western part– No farming, treeless region– Tepees, pits– Hunted buffalo
Culture Areas of North America
• Eastern Woodlands– Northeastern part of North America– Full dense forests– 2 large groups• Algonquian—Southern Canada, Great Lakes, Atlantic
coast• Iroquois—New York
– Women were important, owned all property, chose leaders– Formed a Union to keep peace. LEAGUE OF IROQUOIS