America Before “Discovery”
Prehistory to 1492
Columbus’s landing
By: Mr. Michael R. KahoeDel Valle High School
Asian Migration to America
100,000 years ago: Ice Age – much of the ocean water was frozen into huge ice sheets, or glaciersAs it receded it exposed the Bering Strait Land Bridge a stretch of ocean floor that connected Asia to Alaska It is believed that nomads from Asia crossed this “bridge” from about 35,000 to 10,000 years ago, when the water levels rose again
Bering Strait Land Bridge
What were they following?
Big Game
Early American Civilizations
Agricultural Revolution About 5,000 B.C. Native Americans
learn how to plant and grow crops Maize, beans & squash
Mesoamerica Central America where large
civilizations begin to emerge starting around 1500 B.C. Olmec Mayan Aztec
OlmecFirst civilization in MesoamericaThe Olmec built large villages, temples and pyramidsAlso sculpted large monuments including 8 ft. tall headsOlmec culture lasted from 1500 B.C. – 300 B.C.Teotihuacán – first American city
Olmec head
Mayan
Mayan culture emerged around 200 A.D. in the Yucatan PeninsulaWere talented engineers and mathematicians Developed accurate calendars Built large cities (Tikal &
Chichén Itzá)
Thrived until about 900 A.D. when cities were abandoned Invasion or over farming may
have played a part
Mayan Calendar
Pyramid at Chichén Itzá
Aztec
Developed around 1300 A.D.Established the city of Tenochtitlán, where Mexico City standsCreated a mighty civilization by conquering their neighborsBy 1500s roughly 5 million lived under Aztec rule
Eagle perched on cactus
Aztec warrior
The Anasazi
One of the earliest North American cultures Anasazi means “Ancient people” in
Navajo
Flourished around A.D. 1100 to 1300Built large adobe-walled towns in remote areasMade artistic pottery and tightly woven baskets Often referred to as “The Basket Makers”
Anasazi Ruins
The Mound Builders
Centered in Ohio River ValleyMounds took decades to build & were up to seven stories in height Surrounded by earthwork walls
Cahokia was the largest town By A.D. 1100 population was ~
30,000 No other American town grew to that size
until Philadelphia did 700 years later
Cahokia
More on American Indians
Population of about 54 million Native Americans by the time Columbus arrivesAround 250 different tribes at that timeAt least 2,000 different languages
Native American Tribes
First European Settlers
The Vikings Raided Europe for about
300 yrs Looking for new lands to
settle Erik the Red discovered
Greenland and settled there in 985 A.D.
15 years later his son Leif Erickson landed in Newfoundland, Canada Called the area Vinland
Christopher Columbus
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