Chapter 1 “The First Americans”

American History Chapter 1 “The First Americans”

Early American History • Early American history is divided into twotime periods, Pre-Columbian and Post-Columbian. • Pre-Columbian means before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 in North America. • Post-Columbian means after the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the North American Continent.

Studying the Past • Where? Where Why How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past • Where were these Natives settling before the Americas Why • Before the Americas, natives settles along major rivers in Asia. • They were nomads – people who follow their food. Where How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past – Why? • What caused early Native Americans to migrate to the Americas Why • Why • It was a chain reaction of events • Change in climate; ice age • Shrinking animal food supply • Man followed their food supply Where How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past The Ice Age Coming Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past – How? • How did these early Native arrive to the Americas Why • The Earth enters a long Ice Age • Waters in the Bering Strait freeze • Water levels drop, exposing the Beringia land bridge Where How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past Read pages 20-21 Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past – How? • How? Why • Hunters from Asia cross into North America • People spread through the Americas • Native Americans create new cultures. Where How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past - Culture • They brought and developed culture Why • Useof plants and animals • Weapons • Civilizations and Communities Where How Culture Section I: Early peoples

Review Section I Effect • Hunters from Asia cross into N. America • People spread through the Americas • Native Americans create new cultures Causes • The Earth enters a long Ice Age • Waters in the Bering Strait freeze • Water levels drop, exposing the Beringia land bridge Section I: Early peoples

Natives to the Americas • These are the 4 Pre-Columbian Empires that rose to power • Olmec • Mayan • Aztec • Inca Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Olmec Empire – 1500 BCE – 300 BCE • Contributions • Excellent farmers • Sculpted large monuments • Built stone pavements and drainage systems • Religion – polytheistic (believed in many gods) • Close society Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Olmec capitol Teotihuacan Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire - 300 C.E. to 1000 C.E. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire - Agriculture • The Mayan culture was based on farming. • They grew maize (corn), beans, sweet potatoes, cotton and cacao (chocolate). Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire - Architecture • They built cities that were very organized. • They also built large pyramids. • The top of the pyramid was used for religionand government. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire – Religion/Government • Religion • They were polytheistic (believed in many gods) • The most revered deities (gods) were Itzamna and Ix Chel, father and mother of all other gods and Chac the rain god. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire – Religion/Government • Government • Their government was a Theocracy– ruled by religious leaders Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Mayan Empire – Other • Contributions • Astronomy – developed a 365 day calendar that was the world’s most accurate until this century! • Complex writing – used a system of hieroglyphics made up of 800 signs. It was so complex they have still not been fully decoded. • Established a market system- exchange of goods (crops, pottery, meat, salt) • The pyramid was used as a calendar – 4 stairways, each with 91 steps and a platform at the top making 365 (the number of days in a year)! Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire – Decline 900 AD • Revolting of slaves and farmers • Not enough food • Earthquakes • Invasion by outside armies • All these things together resulted in the downfall of the Mayan Empire by 900 AD. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire 1325 CE – 1400 CE Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire - Architecture • Their capital city of Tenochtitlan, set in the lake, was a beautiful city. • They built pyramids, mile-long floating roads, aqueducts and marketplaces. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire - Government • The Aztecs were a tribe living on the edge of Lake Texcoco, the site of present day Mexico City. • After conquering neighboring tribes, the Aztecs ruled the largest empire Mexico had ever seen. • 100,000 people lived there. • Their government was highly codified (a strict system of rules to follow). • It was a monarchy – government ruled by an all-powerful emperor • The emperor collected taxes from the conquered people and gave land to his people, especially the warriors. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire - Religion • The Aztec Religion was polytheistic – believed in many gods. • They believed that human sacrifices were needed to please the gods and to have a good harvest. • The Aztec god Quetzacoatl was the god of intelligence and creation. He was their most important god. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire - Other • The Aztecs used a calendar similar to the Mayans. It was based on a 365 day year. • In the mythology of the Aztecs, there were 5 ages of humans. • The first age of mankind ended with the animals devouring the humans. • The second age was ended by wind. • The third age ended by fire. • The fourth age ended by water. • The fifth age is called Nahui-Olin (Sun of Earthquake). It began in 3113 BC and ended on December 24, 2011. Many believed this would be the end of the world. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Aztec Empire - Writing • The Aztec language was based on symbols representing words. • They would combine symbols to create sentences. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Neighborhood Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire – 1200 CE – 1535 CE Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire – Agriculture • Agriculture • The Inca grew maize (corn), squash, tomatoes, peanuts, chili peppers, melons, cotton, potatoes and coca (chocolate). • They developed drainage systems and canals to help grow more crops. • They used llamas for transportation and meat. • Because they had enough food and resources, their population grewto about 9,000,000 people. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire - Government • Government • The Incas followed a monarchy – government ruled by a king or queen. • They were led by King Pachacuti. • Their society was arranged by a strict structure. • 1. The highest level was the Sapa – high priest or ruler and the army commander • 2. The temple priests, architects and regional army commanders were next. • 3. The two lowest classes were the artisans, army captains, farmers and herders. • Farmers provided most of the food for the rest of the population. • They had to pay tax in the form of gold, which was distributed to the higher classes. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire - Economy • The Inca lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile. • Their capital was Cuzco. • The main resources available to the Inca Empire were agricultural land, labor, mines (producing gold, silver and copper) and fresh water. • With careful use of these resources, the Incas kept things moving the way they wanted. • Tribute in the form of service (mita) played an important role in maintaining the empire. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire - Religion • The Inca were polytheistic – believed in many gods. • Their most important god was Machu Picchu (The sun god) Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire - Other • The Incas developed an incredible system of roads. • Since the Incas lived in the Andes Mountains, the roads took great skill to build. • They built stone walls to prevent travelers from falling off cliffs. • They used simple writings called quipus. • They developed weapons – spears, clubs, and spiked copper balls on ropes. Olmec Mayan Aztec Inca Section II: Cities and Empires

Chapter 1 “The First Americans”