2.1 Why and how did humans first come to north America?

• Objective you are going to analyze 10 native cultures of North and South America.

The Many Native groups in America had a wide variety of beliefs but held some common basic ideas

• Respect for Nature• Belief in unseen forces and spirits• Special and elaborate ceremonies

The first Americans were hungry!• During the last ice age

glaciers or thick sheets of ice formed exposing land between north eastern Asia and Alaska. We believe bands of hunters crossed this land bridge in search of food. Around 12,000 years ago the ice age ended and people began to farm to sustain a large population.

The Olmecs

• The first city dwellers were the Olmecs who lived 3,500 years ago in central America. The Olmecs farmed, created stone temples, and a calendar.

The Mayas

Priests: performed ceremonies on top of pyramids to bring a good harvest and victory in battle.

Nobles: served as warriors and government officials

Laborers and Farmers grew corn and squash

Slaves were captured as prisoners of war

Mayan Intellectual Developments

• The Mayan priests studied astronomy and mathematics. They were able to predict eclipses and created the concept of zero, an accurate 365 day calendar. Around 900 CE Mayan culture was in decline.

The Aztecs• The Aztecs made their capital at Tenochtitlan an

island on Lake Texoco. They built a system of causeways or packed earth roads to the main land. The Aztecs became rich through trade and conquest.

The Aztec Empire

• The Aztecs worshiped the sun God and viewed themselves as warriors of the sun. The Aztecs conquered and taxed their neighbors to build an empire. The Aztecs sacrificed prisoners of war.

The Incas• The Incas empire

stretched 2500 miles along the west coast of South America with the capital of Cuzco. The empire had 10-20 million people, was led by an emperor and had a system of roads. Runners carrying quipu or a chord with knots representing quantities. The Inca built stone forts and created terraces or steps of land for farming.

Early People of the Southwest

• The ancient pueblo peoples or “Anasazi” lived in the four corners region, and irrigated the desert in order to farm. They used adobe or sun dried brick to build their “pueblos” or villages.

• 2.2 A culture area is a region where people share a similar way of life. A tribe is a community of people customs language and rituals.

Depending on the region Native Americans hunted, gathered, farmed and traded to survive. Diffusion occurred where ideas spread from one culture to another.

Inuits: Culture of the far north

• Inuits lived in pit houses or houses dug in the ground and covered with wood and animal skins. Inuits hunted whales and seals to feed themselves and keep warm.

The Northwest Coast

• Native tribes of the Pacific Northwest hunted salmon, built permanent villages and held potlaches or ceremonial banquets.

Natchez: Cultures of the Southeast• The Natchez lived along the gulf of Mexico and

had a calendar that was divided into 13 months.

The Great Sun: worshiped as a god, his feet never touched the ground: Was carried everywhere but had to marry a Stinkard

Little Suns: Family of the Great Sun (had to marry Stinkards)

Nobles and Honored People (had to Marry Stinkards)

Stinkards: Commoners

The Natchez

modern Pow PowThe Great Sun

Sketch of a Natchez man

Dance

Iroquois Confederacy

• The Iroquois or people of the long house lived in present day NY . Families lived together in clans and were dominated by women. Women were responsible for planting, harvesting , and choosing a leader.

• The Iroquois Long House was 150 feet long and 20 feet wide. 12 families lived in a long house.

• Iroquoian society was made up of five nations but were constantly at war until they were united by Hiawatha in 1570. They became the League of Iroquois and were led by a council of 50 leaders.

The Lenape• The Lenape or the

“true people” inhabited modern New Jersey. The Lenape were matrilineal and lived in clans. The Lenape hunted, grew maize and collected sea food. The Lenape were removed from their lands and sent to live in Oklahoma.

• William Penn signing a treaty with the Lenape