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The First AmericansThe First Americans

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Beringia and the Paleo-IndiansBeringia and the Paleo-Indians The first Americans arrived on the continent during the Pleistocene The first Americans arrived on the continent during the Pleistocene

Ice Age (about 1.65 million until 10,000 years ago)Ice Age (about 1.65 million until 10,000 years ago) Northern and southernmost parts of the Americas covered by iceNorthern and southernmost parts of the Americas covered by ice Sea level was about 300 feet lower that it is todaySea level was about 300 feet lower that it is today The now-submerged land that connected the Asian and American The now-submerged land that connected the Asian and American

continent is known as "Beringia." continent is known as "Beringia." The Paleo-Indians pursued migratory animals across the "land The Paleo-Indians pursued migratory animals across the "land

bridge" about 30,000 years agobridge" about 30,000 years ago The Paleo-Indians dispersed southwardThe Paleo-Indians dispersed southward

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The Clovis CultureThe Clovis Culture Clovis culture: name given to Paleo-Clovis culture: name given to Paleo-

Indians living south of Canada at the Indians living south of Canada at the end of the Pleistocene epochend of the Pleistocene epoch

Name derived from area in New Mexico Name derived from area in New Mexico where the Clovis point, was discoveredwhere the Clovis point, was discovered

Clovis people developed more Clovis people developed more sophisticated and efficient hunting sophisticated and efficient hunting implements to support their growing implements to support their growing populations populations

Clovis sites have been identified Clovis sites have been identified throughout North and South Americathroughout North and South America

Ancient weapons have been found with Ancient weapons have been found with the remains of Ice Age mammoths and the remains of Ice Age mammoths and mastodonsmastodons

Clovis people were nomadic and built no Clovis people were nomadic and built no permanent structurespermanent structures

The Clovis culture disappeared about The Clovis culture disappeared about 10,500 years ago with the extinction of 10,500 years ago with the extinction of the mega-fauna the mega-fauna

It is believed that the Paleo-Indians over It is believed that the Paleo-Indians over hunted the giant species or that the hunted the giant species or that the mass extinction was a result of changing mass extinction was a result of changing climateclimate Clovis pointsClovis points

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The Archaic PeriodThe Archaic Period 12,000 years ago ice sheets 12,000 years ago ice sheets

began to melt, sea levels rose, began to melt, sea levels rose, and water filled low-lying areas and water filled low-lying areas

Regional environments changed Regional environments changed drastically drastically

Technology became more Technology became more sophisticated as humans turned sophisticated as humans turned to a wider variety of activities for to a wider variety of activities for subsistence. subsistence.

In the Archaic Period, people still In the Archaic Period, people still followed seasonal migration followed seasonal migration patterns and subsisted by patterns and subsisted by hunting and gatheringhunting and gathering

Disparate cultures proliferated, Disparate cultures proliferated, trade networks developed, and trade networks developed, and occupational specialization occupational specialization occurredoccurred

Stone mortars and deer bone fish hooks Stone mortars and deer bone fish hooks are examples of specialized tools during are examples of specialized tools during

the Archaic periodthe Archaic period

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The Development of Agriculture and The Development of Agriculture and

Urban SocietiesUrban Societies Around 3000 BCE people in different Around 3000 BCE people in different

parts of the world began to domesticate parts of the world began to domesticate seeds and grow cropsseeds and grow crops

People in the highlands of Mexico People in the highlands of Mexico began cultivating maize (corn) about began cultivating maize (corn) about 5,000 years ago5,000 years ago

The practice spread throughout the The practice spread throughout the continent, facilitating the rise permanent continent, facilitating the rise permanent settlements, architecture, division of settlements, architecture, division of labor, distinctive social classes, and labor, distinctive social classes, and specialized occupationsspecialized occupations

Agriculture increased population Agriculture increased population density and allowed urban civilizations density and allowed urban civilizations to evolve in Mesoamericato evolve in Mesoamerica

The city of Teotihuacan in the Valley of The city of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico appeared about 100 BCE and Mexico appeared about 100 BCE and eventually peaked at a population of eventually peaked at a population of 200,000200,000

This was a highly stratified society with This was a highly stratified society with sophisticated mastery of architecture, sophisticated mastery of architecture, mathematics, politics, hieroglyphic mathematics, politics, hieroglyphic writing, and craftsmanship. writing, and craftsmanship.

Massive temple structures along Massive temple structures along the Avenue of the Dead in the the Avenue of the Dead in the ancient city of Teotihuacan.ancient city of Teotihuacan.

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The Mayan CivilizationThe Mayan Civilization

Mayan Civilization peaked between 300 and Mayan Civilization peaked between 300 and 900 CE900 CE

Mayan population centers were located in Mayan population centers were located in rainforests, which inhibited development of large rainforests, which inhibited development of large farms to support high urban populationsfarms to support high urban populations

Impressive complexes served as religious centers Impressive complexes served as religious centers while most people lived and worked in the while most people lived and worked in the surrounding rural areas surrounding rural areas

Political control was decentralized and groups Political control was decentralized and groups operated as independent statesoperated as independent states

The Maya abandoned their cities for unknown The Maya abandoned their cities for unknown reasons about 900 CEreasons about 900 CE

Maize was grown in the nutrient-poor rain forest Maize was grown in the nutrient-poor rain forest using the milpa (slash and burn) technique.using the milpa (slash and burn) technique.

Soil would become unproductive after 2-4 years, Soil would become unproductive after 2-4 years, so vast tracts of land were needed to support a so vast tracts of land were needed to support a familyfamily

Nature was the focus of the Mayan religionNature was the focus of the Mayan religion Primarily focused on time, as the cyclical nature Primarily focused on time, as the cyclical nature

of the seasons was central to food productionof the seasons was central to food production Developed an incredibly accurate and complex Developed an incredibly accurate and complex

system of calendars system of calendars Elaborate ceremonies often involved some form Elaborate ceremonies often involved some form

of sacrifice, which was offered in the form of of sacrifice, which was offered in the form of foodstuffs, blood-letting, or the beating heart of a foodstuffs, blood-letting, or the beating heart of a personperson

A Mayan CalendarA Mayan Calendar

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The Anasazi CivilizationThe Anasazi Civilization Anasazi culture gave rise to the first Anasazi culture gave rise to the first

political societies north of Mexicopolitical societies north of Mexico Their culture peaked in 1050 CE in Their culture peaked in 1050 CE in

the Four Corners region of the United the Four Corners region of the United StatesStates

The modern tribes of the Hopi, The modern tribes of the Hopi, Pueblo, Zuni are likely decedents of Pueblo, Zuni are likely decedents of the Anasazithe Anasazi

The term "Anasazi" (Navajo for The term "Anasazi" (Navajo for "ancient enemy“) came into use in "ancient enemy“) came into use in the 1930's to designate the diverse the 1930's to designate the diverse groups of native peoples living in the groups of native peoples living in the region at the time region at the time

These tribes shared some These tribes shared some characteristic artistic, agricultural, characteristic artistic, agricultural, and settlement patterns, but the were and settlement patterns, but the were not a unified nation of peoplesnot a unified nation of peoples

Anasazi population centers were Anasazi population centers were clusters of farming communitiesclusters of farming communities

Religious ceremonies were tied to Religious ceremonies were tied to nature marked by observation of nature marked by observation of celestial eventscelestial events

Vast, informal networks of trade and Vast, informal networks of trade and communication developed amongst communication developed amongst the Anasazi and with distant North the Anasazi and with distant North American tribesAmerican tribes

Some later Anasazi groups built majestic Some later Anasazi groups built majestic cliff dwellings. This photo shows the largest cliff dwellings. This photo shows the largest of these structures, the Cliff Palace, at Mesa of these structures, the Cliff Palace, at Mesa

Verde National Park. Strictly speaking, it Verde National Park. Strictly speaking, it was not a palace, but rather a village.was not a palace, but rather a village.

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The Mississippian PeriodThe Mississippian Period "Mississippian Period" refers to "Mississippian Period" refers to

cultures that existed in cultures that existed in midwestern and southeastern midwestern and southeastern United States between 700 and United States between 700 and 1600 CE1600 CE

Developed in the Mississippi and Developed in the Mississippi and Tennessee river valleys, where Tennessee river valleys, where periodic flooding could replenish periodic flooding could replenish the soil with nutrients the soil with nutrients

Mississippian cultures were not Mississippian cultures were not unified nation-states, but rather a unified nation-states, but rather a collection of distinct groups and collection of distinct groups and villages that shared some villages that shared some common identifying common identifying characteristicscharacteristics

Socially stratified and organized Socially stratified and organized as chiefdomsas chiefdoms

Many built large earthen mounds Many built large earthen mounds for ceremonial and burial for ceremonial and burial purposespurposes

Mississippian villages cultivated Mississippian villages cultivated corn, beans, and squashcorn, beans, and squash

Monk's Mound is the largest earth Monk's Mound is the largest earth mound in the Americas and Cahokia's mound in the Americas and Cahokia's

central monument.central monument.

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The Aztecs The Aztecs "Aztec" refers to Tenocha tribe of the "Aztec" refers to Tenocha tribe of the

Mexica, who lived in the Valley of Mexica, who lived in the Valley of Mexico in the 15Mexico in the 15thth & 16th centuries & 16th centuries

The vast city of Tenochtitlan was The vast city of Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325, when the wandering founded in 1325, when the wandering descendents of the Aztecs came upon descendents of the Aztecs came upon a eagle perched on a cactus eating a a eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake on an island in the middle of snake on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, the fulfillment of an Lake Texcoco, the fulfillment of an ancient prophecyancient prophecy

The metropolis of Tenochtitlan was built The metropolis of Tenochtitlan was built on marshes and islands, which gave it on marshes and islands, which gave it an appearance not unlike Venicean appearance not unlike Venice

Its size and sophistication rivaled its Its size and sophistication rivaled its European contemporariesEuropean contemporaries

The highly stratified and organized The highly stratified and organized social structure efficiently administered social structure efficiently administered a powerful and flourishing empire, a powerful and flourishing empire, which sustained itself through warfare which sustained itself through warfare intended to secure tribute and victims intended to secure tribute and victims for sacrifice to the godsfor sacrifice to the gods

The first page of the Mendoza Codex, produced by The first page of the Mendoza Codex, produced by Mexica artists in the 1540's. This illustration, one Mexica artists in the 1540's. This illustration, one

of the few examples of pre-colonial Mexica of the few examples of pre-colonial Mexica manuscripts to survive the destruction of temples manuscripts to survive the destruction of temples by the invading Spanish, depicts the founding of by the invading Spanish, depicts the founding of

Tenochtitlan in 1325 and celebrates the prowess of Tenochtitlan in 1325 and celebrates the prowess of its leader, Tenochtli, and that of other lords and its leader, Tenochtli, and that of other lords and

warriors. warriors.

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The Iroquois Confederacy The Iroquois Confederacy The Iroquois of present-day Ontario and The Iroquois of present-day Ontario and

New York State settled along waterways New York State settled along waterways where cultivation could support their where cultivation could support their dense populationsdense populations

Lived in longhouses occupied by Lived in longhouses occupied by extended, matrilineal families, surrounded extended, matrilineal families, surrounded by imposing wooden palisades to defend by imposing wooden palisades to defend against invaders against invaders

They called themselves the They called themselves the Haudenosaunee, "people of the long Haudenosaunee, "people of the long house" house"

In the late 16In the late 16thth century, the five nations of century, the five nations of the Iroquois allied to form the Iroquois the Iroquois allied to form the Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy

The Mohawks, Senecas, Onondagas, The Mohawks, Senecas, Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas, and later the Oneidas, Cayugas, and later the Tuscaroras, allied as sovereign nations Tuscaroras, allied as sovereign nations under a common constitution known as the under a common constitution known as the Great Binding LawGreat Binding Law

Some historians theorize that the framers of Some historians theorize that the framers of the United States Constitution were inspired the United States Constitution were inspired by the ingenuity of the Iroquois system, by the ingenuity of the Iroquois system, though this point is controversialthough this point is controversial

The Iroquois Confederacy was one of the The Iroquois Confederacy was one of the most formidable powers in the region most formidable powers in the region before and during the colonial periodbefore and during the colonial period

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MultimediaMultimedia CitationCitation

Slide 1: http://sscl.berkeley.edu/~anth122/wenatclvs.JPG Slide 2: Slide 2: http://http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~mmap/images/Slides/beringia.jpgwww.ic.arizona.edu/~mmap/images/Slides/beringia.jpg Slide 3: Slide 3: http://sscl.berkeley.edu/~anth122/wenatclvs.JPG Slide 4: Slide 4: http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth7_archaic.htmlhttp://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth7_archaic.html

http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/newpermanent/archaeology/exhibition/arhttp://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/newpermanent/archaeology/exhibition/archaic.htmlchaic.html

Slide 5: Slide 5: http://www.photo.net/philg/digiphotos/200311-mexico-city/teotihuacan.quarthttp://www.photo.net/philg/digiphotos/200311-mexico-city/teotihuacan.quarter.jpger.jpg

Slide 6: Slide 6: http://http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/MAYAS.HTMwww.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/MAYAS.HTM Slide 7: Slide 7: http://www.nps.gov/history/worldheritage/images/Mesa%20Verde%20-http://www.nps.gov/history/worldheritage/images/Mesa%20Verde%20-

%20Glen%20Crandall-a.jpg %20Glen%20Crandall-a.jpg Slide 8: Slide 8: http://www.eiu.edu/~history/ha/Application%20Data/Macromedia/Dreamweahttp://www.eiu.edu/~history/ha/Application%20Data/Macromedia/Dreamweaver%20MX%202004/Configuration/ServerConnections/Unnamedver%20MX%202004/Configuration/ServerConnections/Unnamed%20server/ha/exhibits/images/intro%20pic.JPG %20server/ha/exhibits/images/intro%20pic.JPG

Slide 9: http://www.lib.msu.edu/diversity/tenoch.htm Slide 9: http://www.lib.msu.edu/diversity/tenoch.htm Slide 10: Slide 10:

http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/humanrights/timeline/iroquoisnations.jpghttp://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/humanrights/timeline/iroquoisnations.jpg