Chapter One – Converging Cultures Section One – The Migration to America

Chapter One – Converging Cultures

Section One – The Migration to America

1. The Asian Migration to Americaa. The first people arrived in America at least 10,000 years ago (more likely

15,000-30,000 years ago)b. Scientists believe people crossed a land bridge connecting Asia and North

America about 15,000 years ago.c. The earliest people were probably nomads

searching for food.d. They continued to migrate

here until water levels rose closing the landbridge (Now Bering Straight)e. Migrants made use of other

types of food as the environment changed

2. Early Civilizations in Mesoamerica (meso means middle)1. The agricultural revolution occurred between 9,000-10,000 years ago

a. pumpkins, squash, peppers, gourds, beans, corn2. Corn became vitally important

b. bread (could be stored for a longtime)3. Abandon the nomadic life (settle villages)4. Civilizations emerged

a. The Olmecs1. Between 1,500-1,200 B.C. near Veracruz, Mexico2. Large villages, temples and pyramids3. Large stone heads (20 tons)4. Died out about 300 B.C.

b. The Maya1. Ideas spread from the Olmec civilization2. Obsidian for tools and weapons3. Developed elaborate trade networks4. Lasted to about 900 AD (exhausted the soil?)5. Studied astronomy, math and engineering6. Build great pyramids (Chichen Itza)

c. The Toltec1. Built a large city called Tula2. Built large pyramids, and palaces with pillared halls.3. Conquered by the Aztecs around 1200 AD

d. The Aztecs1. Built a military empire2. Conquered neighboring cities3. Brought some captured people to serve as human sacrifices4. About five million people under Aztec rule by the time the Spanish arrived in the 1500’s

3. North American Culturesa. The Hohokam

1. Began about 300AD2. Built canal networks from the Gila and Salt Rivers3. Grew corn, cotton, beans and squash4. The Hohokam vanished by about 1500, likely due to floods or competition for farmland

b. The Anasazi1. Lived in the four corners area (CO,UT,NM,AZ)2. Channeled and captured rain water for their crops3. Built Chaco Canyon between 850-1100

a. Multi-Story buildings (Spanish called them pueblos)4. Built their pueblos where streams of rainwater ran together5. Died out around likely due to drought or epidemics

c. The Adena and Hopewell Cultures1. developed in the eastern woodlands2. developed woodwoking tools and axes3. buried their dead in burial mounds4. Adena declined around 200 AD, Hopewell around 400 AD

d. The Mississippian Culture1. Developed in the MS river valley2. Moundbuilders3. Largest city was Cahokia (near St. Louis)

a. About 16,000 people4. Collapsed around 1300 AD

a. famine, emigration, attack