American HistoryAmerican History

How it all began, the early How it all began, the early daysdays

So … to begin withSo … to begin with

• We all know that the very first people We all know that the very first people to come to the New World came from to come to the New World came from Asia across the land bridge that is Asia across the land bridge that is now the Bering Strait – right?now the Bering Strait – right?

• Well – some people say that perhaps Well – some people say that perhaps people of the Pacific Islands may people of the Pacific Islands may have come over on outriggers early, have come over on outriggers early, early on to parts of South America.early on to parts of South America.

How did they live?How did they live?

• Much like every other civilization we have Much like every other civilization we have studied in the past, early Americans were studied in the past, early Americans were hunters and gatherers and later hunters and gatherers and later established agriculture and developed established agriculture and developed societies.societies.

• As one would imagine, people would adapt As one would imagine, people would adapt and interact with their environment as and interact with their environment as they developed their cultures and from they developed their cultures and from here we begin our journey.here we begin our journey.

Mesoamerican CulturesMesoamerican Cultures

• The Olmec developed the earliest known The Olmec developed the earliest known civilization around 1200 BC. They are civilization around 1200 BC. They are known for their huge stone heads – rounder known for their huge stone heads – rounder than Easter Island stone heads – they also than Easter Island stone heads – they also built the first pyramids in the new world and built the first pyramids in the new world and used stone in most of their architecture and used stone in most of their architecture and sculpture. By the time their civilization sculpture. By the time their civilization ended around 400 BC, they had spread their ended around 400 BC, they had spread their culture throughout the region.culture throughout the region.

Olmec CultureOlmec Culture

OlmecOlmec

MayaMaya

• The Maya were The Maya were next. They also next. They also built pyramids and built pyramids and grew corn and other grew corn and other crops and lived in crops and lived in small villages. By small villages. By AD 200, the Maya AD 200, the Maya were building great were building great cities with large cities with large stone palaces and stone palaces and temples.temples.

MayaMaya

• Mayas paved large Mayas paved large plazas for gatherings plazas for gatherings and built canals to and built canals to divert water and divert water and created many different created many different art works distinctly art works distinctly Maya. By the 900’s, Maya. By the 900’s, their society would their society would begin to collapse and begin to collapse and historians are still historians are still unsure as to why.unsure as to why.

MayaMaya

The AztecThe Aztec

• The Aztec were The Aztec were superior warriors with superior warriors with great military ability. great military ability. Around 1100 AD the Around 1100 AD the Aztec moved to south Aztec moved to south central Mexico central Mexico conquering towns, conquering towns, making alliances and making alliances and building a large building a large empire controlling a empire controlling a huge trade network.huge trade network.

The AztecThe Aztec

• In AD 1325, they In AD 1325, they founded their founded their capital, Tenochtitlan capital, Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake on an island in Lake Texcoco. It would Texcoco. It would become the greatest become the greatest city in the Americas city in the Americas and one of the and one of the world’s largest.world’s largest.

The AztecsThe Aztecs

• The island city would The island city would need bridges to need bridges to connect it to the rest of connect it to the rest of the empire, which they the empire, which they built. Trade and tribute built. Trade and tribute made the Aztecs rich made the Aztecs rich and by the 1500’s, they and by the 1500’s, they ruled the most powerful ruled the most powerful state in the area. Did I state in the area. Did I mention they practiced mention they practiced human sacrifice?human sacrifice?

AztecsAztecs

IncaInca

• The Inca began as a small tribe in the The Inca began as a small tribe in the Andes. They made their capital at Cuzco. Andes. They made their capital at Cuzco. They began to expand in the 1400’s and They began to expand in the 1400’s and by 1500, the empire stretched along the by 1500, the empire stretched along the Pacific coast from Ecuador through Chile. Pacific coast from Ecuador through Chile. They would become home to 12 million They would become home to 12 million people. They would have a strong people. They would have a strong central government with a king as the central government with a king as the ruler.ruler.

IncaInca

• The official The official language of the language of the Inca was quechua, Inca was quechua, which is still spoken which is still spoken today. This was not today. This was not a written language, a written language, so records were so records were kept on a system of kept on a system of knotted strings knotted strings known as quipu. known as quipu.

IncaInca

• The Inca are known The Inca are known for their buildings, for their buildings, art and an art and an advanced system of advanced system of highways that highways that united the empire united the empire and along with and along with bridges to connect bridges to connect all parts, made all parts, made communication communication possible and easy.possible and easy.

IncaInca

Native American Cultures of Native American Cultures of North America ‘Cross the North America ‘Cross the BorderBorder• We will visit Native American early We will visit Native American early

cultures at a later date in a special cultures at a later date in a special project. For now, it is important to project. For now, it is important to note that hey had varied ways of life, note that hey had varied ways of life, beliefs and basics such as shelter, beliefs and basics such as shelter, dress and food sources. Our project in dress and food sources. Our project in the future will allow each of you to the future will allow each of you to choose a group to research and report choose a group to research and report on.on.

So …So …

• Stay tuned next time for …Stay tuned next time for …

•Europe and The Race to Europe and The Race to ExploreExplore