Chapter 2Before the First Global AgePrehistory - 1600

Section 1: The First Civilizations of the Americas Key Terms:

Glacier Surplus Causeway Quipu Terrace Culture Adobe Pueblo Mound Builders

Reaching the Americas The first Americans left no written records to tell

us where they came from or when they arrived Scientist have found evidence to suggest that

the first people reached the Americas sometime during the last ice age.

Geologist have stated that the Earth has gone through many ice ages.

The last one occurred over 100,000 years ago. At this time thick sheets of ice called glaciers,

covered almost 1/3 of the Earth.

a. Crossing the Land Bridge In the far north, a land bridge joined Siberia in

northeastern Asia to Alaska in North America. Most scientist believe that bands of hunters

reached North America across this land bridge. Other scientist believe that the first American

arrived to North America by the icy arctic waters.

Another theory claims that people came to the Americas from Europe, Africa or in the South Pacific.

What made these hunters spread to North, Central and South America was for the search of food.

Native Americans would eventually settle in different environments and develop different languages and customs.

b. Adapting to New Conditions About 12,000 years ago, when the last ice

age ended, the glaciers melted and the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska disappeared under the Bering Strait.

Due to larger animals dying the human diet changed to smaller animals, wild berries, nuts, grains and fish.

About 5,000 years ago, the people learned how to grow crops, this is how farming began, and the people could now settle down and stop move from place to place.

They grew corn, beans and squash. As the farming process developed, this in

turn allowed the population to grow.

Olmec Civilization In central America, farming communities began

growing surplus or extra food to support large population, which lead to the first cities.

Cities marked the first civilizations in the Americas. Civilizations included things like a method of record

keeping and a complex religion. The Olmecs are the earliest known civilization in

Central America. They lived in the lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico

about 3,500 years ago. Their farmers supplied nearby cities. Their powerful leaders built stone temples. They left few written records. They studied the stars and created a calendar, to

predict the changes of the seasons and mark the passing of time.

The Mayas The Mayas were influenced by the Olmecs. They lived in the rain forests of what are

today Guatemala and Mexico. They began farming about 3,000 years ago. They grew corn, which was enough to feed

large cities. They also began a trade network along the

roads that linked the inland cities to the coast.

a. Social Classes Priests held great power.

They were the only one that could perform the ceremonies needed to bring good harvest or victory in battle.

Nobles also enjoyed high status. They were warriors and government

officials. Near the bottom of Mayan society were

laborers and farmers. Below them were slaves, most who were

prisoners.

b. Advances in Learning Priests studied the sun, moons and stars to

know when to honor the Mayan gods. Priests made advancements in the studies

of astronomy and mathematics. They created an accurate 365 day calendar. They created a number system which

included zero. Around A.D. 900, the Mayans abandoned

their cities. Some speculate that it was over war or

drought. The Mayan people still live today in the

areas of Guatemala and southern Mexico.

The Aztecs Far north rose a new civilization known

as The Aztecs, who were nomads – people who moved from place to place in search of food.

In the 1300’s the Aztecs settled around Lake Texcoco in central Mexico.

They would build a powerful empire here.

a. Tenochtitlán This was the location of the Aztec capital. They constructed causeways or raised

roads. They learned to farm the shallow swamps

of lake Texcoco. They harvested several crops on floating

garden called chinampas. The civilization prospered from trade and conquest.

b. Religion Aztec priests studied the heavens and

developed complex calendars. They used this to know when to plant and

harvest their crops. They paid special attention to the sun

god. They called themselves “warriors of the

sun.” They sacrificed thousands of captives to

the sun god, as they believed it was needed for the sun to rise each day.

c. A Powerful Empire By 1500, the Aztec ruled a huge empire,

from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.

There were many revolts due to heavy taxes and the scarifies of a huge number of prisoners.

This would eventually lead to their demise.

The Incas Far to the south, the Incas built one of the largest

empires in the Americas. By 1500, it stretched 2,500 miles along the west coast

of South America. Their capital and center was Cuzco, located in the

Andes. All nobles tried to visit at least once in their lifetime,

as it was a holy city. In the center of the city was the palace of the

emperor, known as the Sapa Inca. The emperor was regarded as a god and descended of

the sun god.

The emperor ruled over more than 10 million people from Cuzco.

He sent governors out to check on all the people and made sure they did work for the state.

They had roads to unite the empire. Runners were sent out through the roads to

spread messages. They always carried a quipu, which was a cord or

string with knots that stood for quantities. Quipu were also used by government officials to

keep records. They were skilled engineers building stone

temples and forts. They also built terraces, or wide steps of land.

Early Cultures of North America Scholars have found Mayan and Aztec

ideas farther north. Traders and migrating people carried

food, art, etc. to early people in North America.

This lead to culture, which is the entire way of life of a people – including their homes, economy, government, etc.

a. People of the Southwest 3,000 years ago the knowledge of farming

spread northward. This lead to the farming societies of the

Hohokams and Anasazis. The Hohokams lived about 2,000 years

ago in present-day southern Arizona. The Anasazis lived in the Four Corners

region, where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet. They irrigated the desert like the Hohokams

in order to farm. They also developed roads to link dozens of

towns to encourage trade.

b. Anasazi Houses They built large houses with walls of stone

and adobe, or sundried brick. The Spanish called their homes pueblos,

or villages. About 1,000 years ago the villages faced

attacks from warlike neighbors, so they escaped and built new homes along steep cliffs.

c. Mound Builders Another farming culture also developed, the

Mound Builders - which were various cultures that built large earth mounds beginning about 3,000 years ago.

They were found from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi Valley and from Wisconsin to Florida.

The first mounds were used for burials. The best known group of Mound Builders

were the Hopewells and the Mississippians. Between A.D. 700 and 1500 the

Mississippians built a large city at Cahokia. END

Section 2: Native American Cultures Key Terms:

Culture area Tribe Pit house Potlatch Kachina Clan League of the Iroquois Sachem

Culture Areas of North America A culture area is a region in which

people share a similar way of life. Each area had many tribes or a

community of people who share common customs, language and rituals.

Tribal leaders often made decisions for the group.

a. Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing Native American develop ways to meet

their needs. They hunted animals, fished and gathered

nuts and fruits for food. They made boats out of animal skins and

canoes from trees.

b. Farming Other tribes survived from farming and

planting corn, beans and squash. They developed dozens of varieties of

corn, including larger ears of corn.

c. Trade Indians traded for goods not found within

their region. Some goods traveled more than 1,000

miles from one end to another. Trade goods included dried salmon, shells,

fish oil, skins, etc.

Climate, Resources and Culture Climate and natural resources influenced the

crops people grew and the animals they hunted.

It also affected their clothing and shelter. It affected their tribal organization. Where climates were harsh and resources

limited forced the people to be nomadic. They would live in small hunting bands.

If the climate was more favorable, the families were larger and the people stayed longer.

a. Cultures of the Far North and Plateau Regions Frozen seas ad icy, treeless plains made up

the world of the Inuits, who lived in the Arctic region.

They gathered the resourced they could with each season change.

They lived in pit houses or houses dug into the ground and covered with wood and skin.

The Plateau region has a cold and dry environment.

People who lived here were the Utes and Shoshones. They were hunters and gathers. They had limited possessions.

b. Cultures of the Northwest The people of the Northwest Coast

enjoyed milder temperatures and abundant food supplies.

They stayed in one place, building permanent villages.

A family gained status, by how much they owned.

A family might have held a potlatch or ceremonial dinner, to show off its wealth. It would last many days, the family invited

many and gave their guest gifts.

c. Cultures of the Southeast In the Southeast were the Natchez tribe. The climate was warm and moist. They were farmers, hunters and

fishermen. They had a calendar with 13 months. The ruler of the Natchez was known as

the Great Sun and was worshipped as a god.

Socials levels included Little Suns (ruler’s family), Nobles, Honored People, and Stinkards or commoners.

Marriage laws ensured that membership in each class kept changing.

Shared Beliefs The many Native American groups had

a wide variety of beliefs, but shared some basic ideas.

a. Respect for Nature Central to Native American belief was a

deep respect for the earth. Their prayers and ceremonies were

designed to maintain balance between the people and the forces of nature.

They believed that the world was full of powerful, unseen forces and spirits.

The Kwakiutls from the Pacific Northwest chanted a prayer when they caught their first fish of the season.

b. Special Ceremonies In farming areas, tribes held ceremonies

to endure great rainfall. In midsummer, the Kachinas or spirits,

who were represented by masked Native American dancers would come.

In the Southeast, tribes held a Green Corn Ceremony when the corn ripened in the fall.

The Iroquois Confederacy They lived in the Western Woodland, or

present say New York State. They called themselves “The People of the

Long House” because of their sturdy dwellings. The women owned all the household property

and were in charge of planting and harvesting. Women chose the clan leader and could

remove him if he did not do his job. A clan was a group of two or more related

families.

The Iroquois included five nations that spoke similar languages: the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida and Cayuga.

Until the late 1500’s they were frequently at war.

In 1570 they came together to form one alliance – this became the League of the Iroquois.

A council of 50 specially chosen tribal leaders called sachems met once a year.

END

Section 3: Trade Networks of Africa and Asia Key Terms:

First global age Islam Quran Silk Road Caravan City-state Swahili Savanna Extended family Kinship

Setting the Scene Ibn Battuta was a scholar from North Africa

that wanted to learn all he could from the many different people and lands of the Muslim world.

In 30 years he would travel 73,000 miles. Trade and travel in the 1400’s was

booming, as the land reached from along the Atlantic Ocean to the boarders of China.

Historians call this time the first global age.

The Muslim World Arab merchants played a major role in

the growing trade. Arabia’s location in the Middle East

made it a major crossroads of the world.

a. Rise and Spread of Islam In the early 600’s, a new religion, Islam,

emerged in Arabia. The founder was the prophet Muhammad. Followers called Muslims. The sacred book of Islam is the Quran. Followers carried Islam across North Africa

and into Spain., it was also spread eastward, from Persia to India and beyond.

People travel every year to Mecca to pray.

b. Trade Routes Muslim traders traded across a vast area

to ports around the Indian Ocean. They travels in large ships that had

triangular sails.

c. Silk Road Other traders traveled through overland

routes including Central Asia and linked China and the Middle East.

These routed were called the Silk Road, because prized Chinese silks had been carried westward along them for more than 2,000 years.

Traders formed caravans or groups of people who travel together for safety.

Trade items included fine porcelains, cloth, ivory, gold and spices.

African Trading States and Cultures Trade also existed in Africa. Trade here included salt, dried fish, gold,

fabrics, jewelry, and slaves.

a. City-States of East Africa Trade flowed up and down the coast of East

Africa. Gold, hardwoods and ivory were shipped

from Africa to India and China. Wealth from these trades helped East

African rulers to build strong city-states, or a large town that has its own government and controls the surrounding countryside.

Many rulers became Muslim. The blend of cultures led to a new

language, Swahili, which blended Arabic words and local African languages.

b. Trading Kingdoms of West Africa A region of grasslands, called the

savanna, covers mush of West Africa. The best known are Mali and Songhai.

Their trading center was in the city of Timbuktu.

Mali rose in about A.D. 1200. Its most famous ruler was Mansa Musa. Songhai rose as the most powerful

kingdom in West Africa in the 1400’s.

c. Village and Family Life Most in Africa made their living from

herding, fishing or farming. Families consisted of an extended

family, or several generations living in one household.

The grandparent or elders were highly respected for their knowledge.

Ties of kinship or sharing a common ancestor, linked families.

Religion beliefs varied.

Chinese Voyages of Trade and Exploration Africa had many different cultures and

kingdoms, but in China, power was centered on the emperor.

Chinese rulers allowed trade, but were often suspicious of outsiders.

a. The Great Treasure Fleet The emperor in 1402, wanted trade and

ordered a huge fleet to be built and wanted Zheng He to command it.

The fleet had more than 300 ships and 28,000 sailors.

Between 1405 and 1433 He made 7 voyages.

b. The Voyages End The great fleet brought exotic good and

animals. In 1435, He dies. A new emperor takes over in China, and

outlaws foreign trade. Many historian wonder what would have

happened if He sailed farther out, around the southern tip of Africa or across the Pacific. Could he have discovered America before

Columbus did in 1492? END

Section 4: Tradition and Change in Europe Key Terms:

Salvation Missionary Direct democracy Republic Feudalism Manor Crusades Astrolabe Renaissance

School of Athens

Jewish and Christian Traditions European civilization emerged slowly

during the long period from about A.D. 500 to 1400.

European beliefs were shaped by two religions of the ancient Middle East, Judaism and Christianity.

a. Judaism and the Importance of Laws Judaism refers to the religious beliefs of

the Israelites, who lived more than 3,000 years ago. They are now known as Jews They believe in one God Their history and laws are recorded in the

Torah. They believe that all Jews should obey the

Ten Commandments. Where ever they went they obeyed their

religion’s laws.

b. Christianity and the Teachings of Jesus About 2,000 years ago a Jew named Jesus began

to preach about the goodness and mercy of God. Some followers called him the Messiah. The Gospels, recount about the life of Jesus. The Local officials say him as a threat and

ordered he be crucified. His teachings inspired a new religion –

Christianity. Jesus taught about salvation, or everlasting life. Around A.D. 391, Christianity became the official

religion of the empire. The church would send out missionaries, or

people who spread Christian teachings across Europe.

Greek and Roman Traditions Two ancient civilizations shaped

European traditions over the centuries – ancient Greece and Rome.

Colosseum in Rome

a. Greek Ideas about Government Around 500 B.C., Greece entered a golden

age. Greeks created art, wrote plays and poems. Thinkers such as Socrates and Aristotle stated

that individuals could understand the natural world.

Greeks made contributions to math, science, medicine and government.

They first lived in small city-states, but eventually in Athens, created direct democracy or a form of government in which ordinary citizens have the power to govern.

Those considered citizens were free men whose parents were born in Athens.

b. Roman Government and Law The Romans began in small city-states, but were

influenced by the Greek. In 509 B.C., they overthrew their king and set up

a republic, or a system of government in which citizens choose representatives to govern them. A senate and assembly made the laws.

Rome would come into crisis and military leaders seized power. Julius Caesar, would name himself dictator for life.

He was soon murdered. His nephew, Octavian then declared himself

emperor in 27 B.C. The empire lasted almost 500 years. Its language, Latin, and ideas about law became

wide spread.

c. Decline of Rome The Roman empire declined slowly due to

invaders and slow trade and travel. A few Christian monasteries preserved

ancient manuscripts, others survived in the Islamic world. Due to these manuscripts being saved, they

would play a major role in American history.

The Middle Ages The period from about A.D. 500 to about

1400 is known as the Middle Ages.

a. Feudalism A new government rises in the Middle

Ages where Kings and Queens decided their land among warrior nobles, in return, they would fight for their ruler when asked.

This system of rule by lords who ruled their lands, but owed loyalty and military service to a monarch is called feudalism.

Social levels were as followed: king, then powerful lords, lesser nobles, then the feudal society who were peasants.

b. Daily Life Feudal life revolved around the manor,

which included the lord’s castle and the lands around it.

Each manor was self-sufficient. The most powerful force was the Roman

Catholic Church. The clergy were often the only ones who

could read and write. About A.D. 900 life began to change, as

farming methods improved and trade began to grow.

c. The Crusades Major change came between 1100 and

1300 in part because of the Crusades or a series of wars fought by Christians to control the Holy Land, which included Jerusalem.

The fighting between Muslims and Christians continued for almost 200 years.

Christians would fail to win control of the Holy Land.

d. Growth of Trade The Crusades had important effects in

Europe because the Crusaders traveled beyond their villages in the Middle East.

Europe had traded before with the Middle East, but now they demanded more trade, especially from Asia.

e. New Tools for Navigation Trade brought new knowledge, for

example, sailing skills. Europeans also learned about the

magnetic compass. Another sailing tool was the astrolabe,

which helped sailors determine their latitude while at sea.

By 1500, Portugal had taken the lead in this new overseas travel.

The Renaissance Expands Horizons Increased trade and travel made Europeans

want to learn more. They produced new books about art, medicine,

astronomy and chemistry. This great burst of learning was called the

Renaissance, a French word meaning rebirth. It lasted from the late 1300’s until the 1600’s. A new invention, the printing press, created by

Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450’s, would help spread the learning of the time.

a. The Search for New Trade Routes Trade brought prosperity at this time. European rulers increased their power. In Spain and Portugal, the Christian

monarchs drove out Muslim rulers. Rulers in England, France, Spain and

Portugal saw trade bringing them great wealth.

They would hunt for other routes to Asia. They also thought about trading with

Africa.

b. Portuguese Voyages Portugal was an early leader in the search for a new

trade route to Asia and for the source of African gold. In the early 1400’s, Prince Henry encouraged sea

captains to sail along the coast od West Africa. He would set up a school to teach about navigation,

shipbuilding and sailing. They developed the caravel, with triangular sails and

a steering rudder. They would trade silver, cloth, ivory, etc. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias reached the southern tip of

Africa. In 1497, Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good

Hope, at the southern tip of Africa., then he sailed to India.

Portuguese sailors would reach the East Indies, the islands of Southeast Asia and the source of valuable spices.

END