The First Migration to the Americas

1. The First Migration to the Americas

2. Migration • During the last Ice Age, large amounts of water were locked up in ice sheets called glaciers. • Lower ocean levels created a land mass between northeastern Asia and present-day Alaska that was called Beringia.

3. Migration • Travelers from Asia Historians use archaeology to learn about the people from Asia. Archaeologists study artifacts The Paleo-Indians crossed into Alaska between 38,000 and 10,000 B.C. This migration took place over many years. The Paleo-Indians were hunter-gatherers.

4. Adapting to a New Climate • When the ice Age ended, glaciers melted, oceans rose, and Beringia was covered by water. • New environments appeared. • Different environments led to new societies • Some societies practiced domestication • Archaeologists in Mexico have found signs of the first maize

5. Mesoamerica and South America • The Olmecs developed writing using glyphs • The Aztecs built a large empire in the central Mexico. • Inca civilization began in the Andes • The Inca Empire included some 25,000 miles of road

6. Early North American Societies • The Anasazi lived in the southwest where there was little rainfall • The Hopewell lived along the Mississippi and lower Missouri River valleys until about 400 A.D. • The Mississippians lived along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers between 700 A.D. and 1500 A.D.

7. The Artic area • The Inuit lived in present-day northern Alaska and Canada; the Aleut lived in western Alaska • Both groups used kayaks • The Inuit sometimes built igloos • The subartic culture area included the Athabascan and Algonquian

8. The Pacific Coast • Mild climate with rich supply of wildlife and plants • In the Northwest, the Tlingit, Nootkan, and Skokomish peoples relied on salmon, sea otters, and whales for food • Northwest people carved images of totems, ancestor or animal spirits, on wooden poles • To show wealth, individuals held potlatches, events to give away belongings • Native Americans in the California region had abundant food sources year-round, which made farming unnecessary

9. The West and southwest • Dry climate made survival difficult • Groups included the Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute. • Southwest- the Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo • Pueblo people held religious activities in kivas, or round ceremonial rooms

10. The Great Plains • Stretches from Canada into Texas and is bounded by the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Mississippi Valley to the east • Mainly grasslands, was home to millions of buffalo and other game animals • The Mandan lived on the northern Plains, the Pawnee lived on the central Plains • The Apache lived on the southern Plains • On the eastern and western borders lived the Arapaho, Blackfoot, Comanche, Teto Sioux

11. The East • Southeastern groups included the Cherokee, Creek, Natchez and Seminole. • The Northeastern groups included the Algonquian and Iroquois • Some Algonquians lived in wigwams, while the Iroquois lived in longhouses, or rectangular homes of log and bark • Iroquois league- political confederation that included several groups

12. The Vikings • Came from Scandinavia • Used ships to raid and trade throughout Europe • Settled Iceland and Greenland • Lief Eriksson and his crew sailed from Greenland around A.D. 1000 • Eriksson landed in present-day Canada and established a settlement in an area he called Vinland • Abandoned Vinland, perhaps because of attacks from Native Americans or distance from other Viking settlements

13. The Middle Ages • Began with the fall of the Roman Empire • Lasted 50 A.D. to 1500 A.D. • Under feudalism, people known as vassals pledged their loyalty to a lord in exchange for land • Nobles relied on vassals to protect their manors • Peasants –free tenants and serfs- farmed the land

14. Life on a Manor • Provided for the needs of the people • Noblemen spent time ruling, fighting in battle, and managing farmland • Noblewomen such as Eleanor of Aquitane were expected to be beautiful, virtuous, humble, and intelligent • Peasants had difficult lives with few opportunities

15. Catholic Church • The church was the center of religious and social life • The church owned much land and advised rulers • Monasteries, staffed by men called monks, were centers of learning • Convents run by women called nuns created arts, earned money, and provided women with rare opportunities for education

16. The Rise of Nations • England was conquered by William of Normandy in 1066 • In 1215 nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta • The Magna Carta addressed land right, protected some freedoms, and required nobles’ permission before the king • could raise taxes • Italian merchants expanded trade connections • Increased food production led to rising population • New technology was developed during this period

17. The Spread of Islam • Muhammed spread the word of Allah • His messages are collected in Qur-an • Muslims built a powerful navy and soon controlled the eastern Mediterranean • The message of Islam was also spread by traders • The Muslims promoted philosophy, mathematics, and medicine

18. The Crusades • The area including Jerusalem and surrounding lands were considered holy by Christians and Muslims • About 1077, Seljuk Turks prevented Christians from visiting holy places • Pope Urban II called for a holy war to seize Jerusalem in 1095 • The Crusades continued for about 150 years

19. Empires in Asia • By 1279 the Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, ruled an empire that stretched from China’s southern coast to the Black Sea • Merchants traded along the Silk Road, an overland route running from China to the Black Sea • The Ming dynasty overthrew the Mongols in 1368 • The Ming built a large fleet and traded with India and Arabia • Zheng He led expeditions that brought wealth and knowledge to China

20. East African Kingdoms • The Aksum kingdom gained wealth through trade • Bantu-speaking peoples formed about 30 separate city-states • City-states shared a common religion, Islam, and a common language, Swahili

21. West African Kingdoms • Traders tied West Africa to North Africa • Ghana’s wealth came from trading gold • North African traders brought Islam to the empire of Mali in the mid-1200’s • Malian leader Mansu Musa made a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy city of Mecca in 1324 • The rulers of Songhai spread Islam throughout their vast territory until the late 1500’s