Unit 1Pre Columbian

Societies

1. Early Inhabitants of the Americas

• Traditional POV: Land Bridge brings NE Asians• Evidence: Clovis• 10,000 BCE

1. Early Inhabitants of the Americas

• Alternative POV: SE Asians• 11,500 BCE

2. American Indian empires in Mesoamerica

• Olmecs begin around 700 B.C.E. around the Gulf of Mexico

• Maya– Yucatan Peninsula/Guatemalan rainforest– Large cities– Decorated temples– Complex religion, calendar, writing, math– Writing brings history/identity– Trade = culture and variety of goods to

widespread empire

2. American Indian empires in Mesoamerica

• Aztecs– Highlands of central Mexico– Aztecs conquer Teotihuacan– Learned agriculture/irrigation, language, culture– Capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico, D.F.)– Dominated central Mexico– By 1500 Tenochtitlan = 200k citizens

2. American Indian empires in the Southwest

• Anasazi– Master architects/farmers by 900 C.E.– Built into cliffs, good roads– Decline in 1150 C.E. due to droughts

• Descendents adapted by building smaller villages

2. American Indian empires near the Mississippi

• Farming technology spread north• New strains of maize/beans• 1150 C.E. – City of Cahokia near St. Louis• Moundbuilders• Trading networks

3. American Indian Cultures of N.A. at the time of European contact

• Iroquois in PA, NY– Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas

• Close-knit tribal structure• Land/homes in common

3. American Indian Cultures of N.A. at the time of European contact