Chapter 1 “The First Americans” American History.

Chapter 1

“The First Americans”

American History

Early American History• Early American history is divided into two

time 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?

Why

How

Where

Culture

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past

Where were these Natives settling before the

Americas

Before the Americas,

natives settles along major

rivers in Asia.They were nomads – people

who follow their food.

Why

How Culture

Where

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past – Why?

What caused early Native Americans to migrate

to the Americas

Why It was a chain reaction of

events

Change in climate; ice age

Shrinking animal food

supply

Man followed their food

supply

Why

How Culture

Where

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Equator

Section I: Early peoples

The Ice Age Coming

Studying the Past

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Equator

Section I: Early peoples

The Ice Age Coming

Studying the Past – How?

How did these early Native arrive to the

Americas

The Earth enters a long

Ice AgeWaters in the Bering Strait

freeze

Water levels drop, exposing the

Beringia land bridge

Why

How Culture

Where

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past

Section I: Early peoples

Read pages 20-21

Studying the Past – How?

How?

Hunters from Asia cross

into North AmericaPeople spread through the

Americas

Native Americans create new

cultures.

Why

How Culture

Where

Section I: Early peoples

Studying the Past - Culture

They brought and developed culture

Use of plants and animals

Weapons

Civilizations and

Communities

Why

How Culture

Where

Section I: Early peoples

Review Section I

Causes

The Earth enters a long

Ice Age

Waters in the Bering

Strait freeze

Water levels drop,

exposing the Beringia

land bridge

Effect

Hunters from Asia cross

into N. America

People spread through

the Americas

Native Americans create

new cultures

Section I: Early peoples

Natives to the Americas

These are the 4 Pre-

Columbian Empires that

rose to powera) Olmec

b) Mayan

c) Aztec

d) 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 capitol Teotihuacan

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire - 300 C.E. to 1000 C.E.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire - Agriculture

The Mayan culture was based

on farming.

They grew maize (corn), beans,

sweet potatoes, cotton and

cacao (chocolate).

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire - Architecture

They built cities that were very

organized.

They also built large

pyramids.

The top of the pyramid was

used for religion and

government.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire – Religion/Government

Government

Their government was a

Theocracy – ruled by religious

leaders

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Mayan Empire – OtherContributions

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Aztec Empire 1325 CE – 1400 CE

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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 emperorThe emperor collected taxes from the conquered people and gave land to his people, especially the warriors.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.1. The first age of mankind ended

with the animals devouring the humans.

2. The second age was ended by wind.

3. The third age ended by fire.4. The fourth age ended by water.5. 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. Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Aztec Empire - Writing The Aztec language was based on symbols representing words.They would combine symbols to create sentences.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Neighborhood

Section II: Cities and Empires

The Inca Empire – 1200 CE – 1535 CE

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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 grew to about

9,000,000 people.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Inca Empire - Government

GovernmentThe 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 commander2. 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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

The Inca Empire - Religion

The Inca were polytheistic –

believed in many gods.

Their most important god was

Machu Picchu (The sun god)

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca

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.

Section II: Cities and Empires

Olmec Mayan

Aztec Inca