Converging Cultures

1. Converging Cultures The Migration to America; Chapter 1, Section 1

2. Early Migration to America • Earliest settlers unknown • At least 10000 years ago (according to the book) • Nomads– people who continually moved from place to place • Gradual migration from Asia via a land bridge • Bering Strait • Migration continued south • Eventually spread through Central and South America

3. The Bering Strait

4. Mesoamerica Early Civilizations of Mesoamerica

5. Agricultural Revolution & Civilizations • Agricultural Revolution as early Americans learned how to plant & raise crops • Crops included pumpkins, peppers, squashes, gourds, beans • Most importantly Maize • Could be made into flour, which meant bread • Could be dried and stored • Made civilizations possible • A highly organized society marked by trade, government, the arts, science, and often a written language

6. Olmec • 1500-300 BC • Possibly the first people to build a civilization in America • Established Teotihuacan • 1st large city • 300 BC-AD 650 • Developed a large trade system • Also built huge monuments (8-foot heads)

7. Olmec Head

8. Maya • AD 200-900 AD • Developed out of influence of Teotihuacan • Started in the Yucatan peninsula and expanded • Talent for engineering and mathematics • Complex and accurate calendars– linked to positions of stars • Built temple pyramids • 2 main cities Tikal and Chichen Itza • Warred like Greek city-states • Cities abandoned for unknown reason

9. Toltec • Began building a city called Tula • People were master architects • Large pyramids with huge palaces • Among the first Native Americans to use gold and copper for art and jewelry • AD 1200– Tula fell to Chichimec invaders

10. Aztec • 1325– Group of Chichimec called the Mexica established Tenochtitlan • Took the name Aztec • Military power • Human sacrifices, etc. • Came in contact with Europeans

11. North American Cultures Early civilizations in North America

12. North American Cultures • Mesoamerican agricultural technology probably spread north into the American Southwest and up the Mississippi River

13. Hohokam • Began around 300 AD • What is now south-central Arizona • Irrigation canals • Used Gila and Salt Rivers as water supply • Grew large crops • Flourished for 1,000 years • Vanished by 1500 AD

14. Anasazi • Formed b/t 700-900 AD • Began constructing big adobe buildings b/t 850-1100 • Spanish called the structures pueblos • Also built cliff dwellings • Left the area between 1130-1270 AD

15. Eastern Woodlands • Around the same time as the Olmec • Woodworking tools • Stone axes, gouges, dugout canoes • 1000 BC– Began to bury their dead under mounds

16. Adena and Hopewell • Adena • Most important early mound culture • 1000 BC-AD 200 • Ohio River Valley– Spread to New York and New England • Hopewell • Began b/t 200-100 BC • Also built big mounds • Began to decline 400 AD

17. Mississippian • B/t 700-900 AD in Mississippi River Valley • Great Builders • City of Cahokia • Covered about 5 square miles– 16,000 people • Pyramids, etc. • Monks Mound– Base is larger than any pyramid in Egypt or Mexico • Spread across the American South • Moundville, AL • Lasted until about 1300 AD