Unit 1

1. Unit 1 Pre Columbian Societies

2. 1. Early Inhabitants of the Americas • Traditional POV: Land Bridge brings NE Asians • Evidence: Clovis • 10,000 BCE

3. 1. Early Inhabitants of the Americas • Alternative POV: SE Asians • 11,500 BCE

4. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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