Unit I: Settlement of Unit I: Settlement of the Americasthe Americas

Five Themes of Five Themes of GeographyGeography

1)1) Location: Location:

Geographic location as represented Geographic location as represented on a map through latitude and on a map through latitude and longitude. longitude.

Relative location as related to Relative location as related to another place.another place.

3)3) Interaction: Interaction:

Interaction between people and their Interaction between people and their environment; how has man altered environment; how has man altered the environment to suit our needs. the environment to suit our needs.

Interaction between cultures, Interaction between cultures, exchange of ideas or military conflict exchange of ideas or military conflict or both. or both.

4)4) Movement:Movement:

Movement of man across the globe.Movement of man across the globe.

Movement of trade goods.Movement of trade goods.

5)5) Regions: Regions:

Physical characteristics that define a Physical characteristics that define a particular area particular area

or it cultural characteristics that or it cultural characteristics that define a region.define a region.

2)2) Place: Place:

Physical features of an area, Physical features of an area, availability of natural resources availability of natural resources being an important factor. being an important factor.

Human features of an area, Human features of an area, including the cultural developments including the cultural developments that have taken place.that have taken place.

Physical Regions of the U.S Physical Regions of the U.S

Climate classifications in the U.S Climate classifications in the U.S

Development of CivilizationDevelopment of Civilization 23000 B.C - climate change develops 23000 B.C - climate change develops

an Ice Age which creates massive an Ice Age which creates massive glaciers that lower ocean levels by glaciers that lower ocean levels by 200 ft. Drop in sea levels expose land 200 ft. Drop in sea levels expose land connecting Siberia with Alaska across connecting Siberia with Alaska across the Bering Strait. Land Bridge remains the Bering Strait. Land Bridge remains until roughly 12000 BC. until roughly 12000 BC.

Exact date of the migration of Exact date of the migration of nomadic hunters across the Bering nomadic hunters across the Bering Strait is uncertain. The first definitive Strait is uncertain. The first definitive evidence is from around 12000 BC. evidence is from around 12000 BC. Fossil evidence has been found in Fossil evidence has been found in Siberia and Western Alaska. Siberia and Western Alaska.

Within 4000 years nomads had Within 4000 years nomads had advanced to the tip of South America advanced to the tip of South America (Tierra del Fuego).(Tierra del Fuego).

Archeologists believe that Asian Archeologists believe that Asian migrations developed in three waves. migrations developed in three waves. The first Asians entered North The first Asians entered North America around 14000 BC, speaking America around 14000 BC, speaking “Amerind” a forerunner to many “Amerind” a forerunner to many Native languages. Tribes from the Native languages. Tribes from the Algonquian in the Northeast to the Algonquian in the Northeast to the Mayan in Central America speak a Mayan in Central America speak a derivative of Amerind. derivative of Amerind.

The second wave of nomads entered The second wave of nomads entered North America a few thousand years North America a few thousand years later, speaking a language known as later, speaking a language known as “NaDene,” which Native American “NaDene,” which Native American languages in the Canadian Northwest languages in the Canadian Northwest and American southwest derive from.and American southwest derive from.

The last wave of nomads entered The last wave of nomads entered North America around 7,000 BC and North America around 7,000 BC and were the ancestors of the Inuit who were the ancestors of the Inuit who maintained an existence across the maintained an existence across the Artic tundra. It was these settlers Artic tundra. It was these settlers which the Vikings in Greenland which the Vikings in Greenland encountered around 1000 AD.encountered around 1000 AD.

The nomadic hunters entering North The nomadic hunters entering North America found an area loaded with large America found an area loaded with large game that had no previous experience with game that had no previous experience with man. The development of the Clovis man. The development of the Clovis spearhead around 9000 B.C allowed spearhead around 9000 B.C allowed hunters to successfully hunt large hunters to successfully hunt large mammals. At the same time though the mammals. At the same time though the climate changed and further contributed to climate changed and further contributed to the extinction of big game in North and the extinction of big game in North and South America. South America.

The loss of big game for nomadic The loss of big game for nomadic hunters prevented their population hunters prevented their population numbers from increasing. This was in numbers from increasing. This was in sharp contrast to the Eurasian sharp contrast to the Eurasian population which domesticated population which domesticated animals and developed larger animals and developed larger populations. populations.

The close proximity of people to The close proximity of people to animals created a host of animals created a host of communicable diseases which killed communicable diseases which killed portions of the Eurasian population portions of the Eurasian population but also led them to develop but also led them to develop immunities that did not occur in the immunities that did not occur in the Americas. Americas.

Life as hunter-gathers could not Life as hunter-gathers could not sustain the population for ever. sustain the population for ever. Nomadic hunters thus had to turn to Nomadic hunters thus had to turn to the domestication of plant species the domestication of plant species which could be harvested for food on which could be harvested for food on a regular basis. By 4000 BC a regular basis. By 4000 BC permanent farming communities had permanent farming communities had developed in Peru, central Mexico, developed in Peru, central Mexico, and the southwestern United States. and the southwestern United States.

The most important of the early crops The most important of the early crops were maize, sweet potatoes, beans, were maize, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes.tomatoes.

Only the most advanced cultures Only the most advanced cultures developed into sedentary farmers in developed into sedentary farmers in the Americas. North of Mexico, the Americas. North of Mexico, Indians developed semi-sedentary Indians developed semi-sedentary communities where they would settle communities where they would settle for a time in a area. They would use for a time in a area. They would use “slash and burn” agriculture to clear “slash and burn” agriculture to clear an area and then Native women an area and then Native women would plant crops and build temporary would plant crops and build temporary dwellings while men hunted and dwellings while men hunted and fought rival tribes. fought rival tribes.

Every few years the soil would Every few years the soil would become exhausted forcing the tribe to become exhausted forcing the tribe to move to a new location. The move to a new location. The combination of semi-sedentary and combination of semi-sedentary and sedentary cultures created a sedentary cultures created a population of around 50 million by population of around 50 million by 1492.1492.

Civilization in Mesoamerica Civilization in Mesoamerica developed around 1200 B.C along the developed around 1200 B.C along the Mexican gulf coast. Civilizations are Mexican gulf coast. Civilizations are defined by the development of cities, defined by the development of cities, political structures, surplus food political structures, surplus food production, artistic activity and a production, artistic activity and a complex form of communication, but complex form of communication, but does not have to be written. does not have to be written.

The Olmec civilization thrived The Olmec civilization thrived between 1200 and 400 A.D. The area between 1200 and 400 A.D. The area was first settled around 3500 BC was first settled around 3500 BC when Indians began farming corn and when Indians began farming corn and beans. beans.

How did Olmec civilization develop in How did Olmec civilization develop in the gulf?the gulf?

Among other monolithic works, the Olmec carved three-dimensional stone heads, ranging in height from about 6 to 10 ft, out of basalt boulders quarried in distant mountains.

Ruins of Monte Albán, ancient center of the Zapotec civilization. The Zapotecs thrived for about 1000 years, between 500 BC and 500 AD.

Olmec religious beliefs had a tremendous Olmec religious beliefs had a tremendous impact on the Mesoamerican cultures. impact on the Mesoamerican cultures. They developed a dual calendar system They developed a dual calendar system that lasted through the fall of the Aztecs. that lasted through the fall of the Aztecs. The Olmecs developed a 52 year calendar The Olmecs developed a 52 year calendar that ended on the first day of the long that ended on the first day of the long calendar. They believed that this calendar. They believed that this occurrence could bring an end to the occurrence could bring an end to the world and the destruction of the sun. Thus world and the destruction of the sun. Thus human sacrifice was necessary to keep human sacrifice was necessary to keep the sun in motion. the sun in motion.

This belief was also central to the lowland This belief was also central to the lowland culture of the Mayans.culture of the Mayans.

Mayan culture developed as a series of Mayan culture developed as a series of independent city states that controlled the independent city states that controlled the Yucatan Peninsula between 50 BC and Yucatan Peninsula between 50 BC and 900 AD.900 AD.

The Temple of the Inscriptions is famed as Pacal's Tomb. One of the most elaborate burials in a Mayan pyramid is buried deep inside this monument.

Caracol, Chichén Itzá

The Temple of the Columns at Chichen Itza

The city of Chichén Itzá, on the northern Yucatán peninsula, became a center of Maya civilization in the Postclassic Period, after ad 900.

Mayan artwork

Classic Mayan culture began to decline Classic Mayan culture began to decline around 800, with the abandonment of around 800, with the abandonment of several of the larger city states.several of the larger city states.

Causes of the Mayan collapseCauses of the Mayan collapse1.1. The Maya had damaged their The Maya had damaged their

environment through deforestation and environment through deforestation and erosion. erosion.

2.2. Climate changes occurred that brought Climate changes occurred that brought droughts to the area. droughts to the area.

3.3. Frequent wars between the city states Frequent wars between the city states also took its toll on the population. also took its toll on the population.

4.4. The competition between nobles led The competition between nobles led them to forsake underlying problems.them to forsake underlying problems.

By 1400 power in central Mexico had By 1400 power in central Mexico had been consolidated by the Aztecs, who been consolidated by the Aztecs, who had migrated out of the north around had migrated out of the north around 1200. They settled along the shore of 1200. They settled along the shore of Lake Texcoco and began construction Lake Texcoco and began construction of their capital Tenochtitlan, which of their capital Tenochtitlan, which was on the lake itself. was on the lake itself.

Tenochtitlan was connected to the Tenochtitlan was connected to the mainland through a series of mainland through a series of causeways and built floating gardens causeways and built floating gardens on the lake to supply the capital’s on the lake to supply the capital’s population. population.

With a population around 200,000 the With a population around 200,000 the Aztecs dominated the smaller cities in Aztecs dominated the smaller cities in central Mexico. They adopted the central Mexico. They adopted the traditional religion of Mesoamerica traditional religion of Mesoamerica and waged war to capture people for and waged war to capture people for sacrifice in their religious ceremonies. sacrifice in their religious ceremonies.

Plaza of the Three Cultures

Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacán

Avenue of the Dead — Teotihuacán, Mexico Avenue of the Dead — Teotihuacán, Mexico

Aztec Calendar Stone

The dominant empire in South America by 1400 were The dominant empire in South America by 1400 were Incans which were located along the Pacific coast. Incans which were located along the Pacific coast.

This view of the Andes Mountains is from a village near Cuzco in the highlands region of southeastern Peru. Broad valleys and plateaus in this area are above 6500 ft in altitude and lie among the tallest peaks in South America.

The Incan capital of Cuzco controlled The Incan capital of Cuzco controlled an empire over 2,000 miles long. an empire over 2,000 miles long. They developed a complex They developed a complex transportation system to move troops transportation system to move troops and supplies across the empire and and supplies across the empire and fed the population by building massive fed the population by building massive terraces on the sides of the terraces on the sides of the mountains.mountains.

North of Mexico, Native American North of Mexico, Native American cultures developed less sophisticated cultures developed less sophisticated cultures that were still impressive. cultures that were still impressive. Between 3000 BC and 1700 AD Between 3000 BC and 1700 AD “mound builders” developed powerful “mound builders” developed powerful empires from the Gulf Coast to the empires from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. The mound building Great Lakes. The mound building cultures developed trade routes cultures developed trade routes across the continent that last until 400 across the continent that last until 400 AD.AD.

The Serpent Mound twists to a length of 1,348 ft near the town of Peebles in southern Ohio. It is believed to have been built by the Adena, whose culture flourished in the first millennium bc.

In the American southwest, two cultures In the American southwest, two cultures developed complex societies: developed complex societies:

1)1) Hohokam: settled Arizona around 300 Hohokam: settled Arizona around 300 BC and 300 AD. They dug irrigation BC and 300 AD. They dug irrigation canals, created pottery and trade with canals, created pottery and trade with California tribes and Mesoamericans. California tribes and Mesoamericans.

2)2) Anasazi: developed a power culture in Anasazi: developed a power culture in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. They developed housing in the Nevada. They developed housing in the cliffs of the various canyons, irrigation cliffs of the various canyons, irrigation ditches, and astronomical observatories ditches, and astronomical observatories in the cliffs.in the cliffs.

Hohokam Indian Village

Pueblo Bonito of Chaco Canyon

Anasazi Bowl