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Earliest Americans

Learn about the earliest Americans and their migration, from nomadic hunter-gatherers to the development of civilizations like the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Discover their beliefs, achievements, and the mysteries surrounding their sudden decline. Delve into the cultures of the Hohokam and Anasazi peoples in present-day Arizona and the southwest US.

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Earliest Americans

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  1. Earliest Americans

  2. The 1st Migration • During last Ice Age water was frozen & sea levels low • Exposed land bridge between Asia and Alaska over the Bering Strait • 1st Native Americans who crossed were nomads and hunter-gathers– followed herds for hunting • Spread out all over N and S America

  3. Hunted woolly mammoths, mastadons, ran from saber-tooth tigers • Sharpened rocks and bones for spears • Used all parts of animal- skin, meat, bones • Ice age ends and large animals die out, sea covers the land bridge

  4. Settling Down • NA’s begin to hunt small animals and crops, maize (early version of corn) • Allowed them to stay in one place • Form villages, turn into civilizations • Create culture and religion • Several large civilizations develop before Europeans get here

  5. The Maya • Farmers in rainforest of central America • Built flat top pyramids of stone in center of each city– used for religious ceremonies • Largest was at Tikal • Believe in many gods that controlled all things, priests ruled– theocracy

  6. Skilled in astronomy and math • Created 365 calendar and hieroglyphic writing system • Empire suddenly declined– unknown what happened • Many think soil wore out, slave revolt, aliens? • Calendar ends 12-2012– end of world scare?

  7. The Aztec • Centuries after Mayans • Wandering hunters in central Mexico • Saw religious symbol (eagle on cactus with snake in mouth) told them to stop wandering • Large island in center of lake– built the city of Tenochtitlan

  8. Tenochtitlan– huge city with canals, paved roads, 3 draw bridges and floating gardens • Military people, conqueror surrounding tribes, used as slaves and human sacrifice– sun god

  9. The Inca • Largest of the 3, same time as Aztec • Andes mountains of S. America • Capital of Cuzco • Captured others and made part of empire • Farming on sides of mountains-- terraces

  10. Huge army, clubs, spears, spiked balls on ropes • All controlled by emperor, thought to be descendant of sun god • Temples lined with gold– sun god • Miles of paved roads and rope bridges, used runners to communicate messages

  11. The Hohokam • Present day Arizona, earlier than Aztec/Inca • Experts at using water/irrigation in the desert • Stone and pottery, traded with Pacific Coast

  12. The Anasazi • Four corners region of southwest US • Stone dwellings called pueblos, built like apartments • Cliff dwellings– Mesa Verde, Colorado • Were abandoned, no one knows why

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