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Roots of American History

Why study history?

To Help Us Develop Judgment in Worldly Affairs by Understanding the Past Behavior of People and Societies

The Earliest Americans

Where did Native Americans come from? The Land Bridge Theory

The crossed from Asia to America over glaciers. The Coastal Route Theory

Learning to farm They used to be just hunters and gatherers 8000 years ago people started to grow plants in Mexico They no longer needed to travel to find food They used irrigation techniques Groups of people then had a surplus of food and these

communities turned into cities.

Three Major American Civilizations: The Mayas

Between the years 250 and 900, the Mayas built cities in what is now Mexico and Central America.

They built pyramids, created a written language, created a government, and practiced art. They also created accurate calendars.

The Mayas began to disappear in about 900 A.D. Many languages in Central America come from the

Mayan language.

The Aztecs

The Aztecs started to rise as the Mayas fell away. Their capital city was Tenochtitlan, where Mexico City is

today. The city was built on a series of islands in a lake. Considered to be the largest city in the world at that time.

They farmed on floating platforms on the lake. Very religious people. Practiced human sacrifices. They spread their empire over most of Mexico.

The Incas

They had the largest empire in the world during the 1400s

They lived in South America. The Inca capital was Cuzco. They had a great

network of roads to connects cities. They were a very rich people.

Cultures of North America

What is culture? – It’s a way of life Mound Builders

These groups stretched from Appalachia to the Mississippi Their structures large mounds of earth

Anasazi Lived around Utah, Colorado, and northern Arizona Built their dwellings into cliffs to protect themselves from

attacking people like the Navajo and the Aztecs Built beautiful pottery and jewelry The Anasazi mysteriously left their dwelling by the year 1300

Ways of Life

Meeting Basic Needs: Some tribes were hunters and gatherers. Others settled in areas where they could farm.

They came up with different farming tools. Farming aloud for bigger populations to grow.

Many different tribes would trade goods with each other.

They also developed different kinds of currency.

Shared Beliefs

Most Native Americans shared a close tie to the natural world.

Their religion was tied to farming and hunting. They also passed down their traditions orally.

Some didn’t have much of a written language.

Native Americans of North America: Far North

These people lived harsh, cold environments all year long.

They ate fish, birds, whales, and seals. They also traveled by kayak.

They lived in igloos.

North West

From southern Alaska to northern California.

They hunted deer and bears as well as fished for salmon. Food was very abundant

so the people settled permanent houses. They were not farmers.

They were rather wealthy and exchanged gifts often in a potlatch.

Far West

Warm summers and mild winters allowed these people to become great farmers.

Some lived in dug out dirt hills. Others lived in cabin-like structures.

Southwest

These people lived in deserts and also suffered from flash floods.

They learned how to farm

They lived in sun-dried houses called adobe.

Great Plains

A vast region spreading from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.

The people in the river valley mostly lived off of farming.

The others in the middle of the plains were hunters. They followed their food,

buffalo, around. They mostly lived in

teepees.

Eastern Woodlands

They lived in the north eastern US. These areas were dense forests.

The main group of people that lived in this region were the Iroquois. They were divided into five nations. These nations were made of

different clans. These clans were matriarchal.

The Iroquois were at war for many years. They finally made peace.

Southeast

Mild climate, but hot and humid summers. Very good for farming.

Cherokees and Creeks were the major tribes.

They lived in wooden shacks covered in mud.

Most tribes lived in a strict class-based society.