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Chapter 9 : The Americas. 40,000 BC-700 AD. Section 1 The Earliest Americans. Origin of Americans. Civilization in the Americas was new compared to the rest of the world By 10,000 BC, people crossed Beringia to get to the Americas Connected Asia to North America
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Chapter 9 : The Americas 40,000 BC-700 AD
Origin of Americans • Civilization in the Americas was new compared to the rest of the world • By10,000 BC, people crossed Beringiato get to the Americas • Connected Asia to North America • Most likely crossed the bridge while following animals
Hunter-Gatherers • Earliest Americans survived as hunter-gatherers, constantly moving in search of food • Shelters were temporary
Agriculture Changes Life • Around 5000BC, in central Mexico, people were farming • Most important crop was maize(corn) • Led to: • Population growth • Complex Societies • Specialized skills • Rich and poor classes
Section 2Early Mesoamerican Civilizations • Mesoamerica refers to the region of central Mexicoto northern Honduras
The Olmecs • Emerged around 1200 BC in south Mexican jungles • Challenges: • Hot and humid • Swamps/jungles • Extreme rain • Benefits • Natural resources • Flood plain
Olmec Society • Buildings and structures have been discovered that show reverence for leaders • Experts believe they were polytheistic, worshipping a variety of nature gods • Jaguarspirit was most important
Trade, Commerce, and Decline • The Olmec seem to have prospered by having a large tradenetwork that spread their culture • The reasons are unknown, but San Lorenzo and La Venta fell in 900 and 400 BC.
Olmec Legacy • They become a “motherculture” - A culture that sets patternsthat will be followedby later civilizations • Olmec art, especially the Jaguar, will be used by later people • Urbandesign • Classsystem
Zapotec Begins • Took the place of the Olmec • Rose out of the rugged Oaxaca valley • Mountains form a barrier with fertile valleys in between • Initially independent from each other, San Jose Mogote will eventually become the center
Zapotec Flourishes • First of the urban centers in the Americas, the Zapotec build Monte Alban in 500 BC • Around this time, they also develop writingand a calendarsystem • They will rule the region for over 1000 years, then decline around 600AD
Zapotec Contributions • Hieroglyphic writing • Calendar based on the sun’smovement • City building
Difficult Environment • Early Native Americans in South America will grow in the Andes, the 2ndtallest mountain range, running down the west coast • Steepand rockywith poor soil • Coastline is rough with a few exceptions (rivers)
ChavinPeriod • First S. American civilization arose in the mountains, not the coast • Lasted from 900to 200BC • No evidence of politicalor economicorganization • Primarily religious • Probably the “mother culture” of the Andes
Nazca Culture • Developed along the southern coast of Peru from 200 BC-600 AD • Extremely dryregion • Used underground canalsand irrigationsystems to farm • Famous for the mysterious Nazca lines
MocheCulture • Northerncoast of Peru • 100-700 AD • Used the riversflowing from the Andes • Produced a variety of crops • Extremely wealthy in jewels(gold, silver, and semiprecious stones) • Unknown religiousbeliefs and reason for decline