1. THE AMERICAS400 CE 1500 CE

2. LANDS OF THE AMERICAS The Americas make up an enormous land area, stretching about 9,000 miles from the Arctic Ocean in the north to Cape Horn at the tip of South America. The Americas encompass many landscapes: desert, mountains, forests, river valleys, coastal regions, and more. Two major mountain ranges extend through the western Americas: the Rocky Mountains of North America and the Andes in the South. On the eastern coasts run the Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Brazilian Highlands in the South. Great river valleys exist in both North and South America; the Mississippi in the North and the Amazon in South America. 3. Between 100,000 and 8,000years ago, the last Ice AgeFIRST AMERICANS produced low sea levels that inturn created a land bridge inthe Bering Strait between theAsian and North Americancontinents.Small communities of peoplefrom Asia crossed this landbridge; most likely they werehunters who were pursuing theherds of bison and caribou thatmoved in search of grazing.These people became the firstAmericans. They were hunter-gatherers who eventuallyspread throughout North andSouth America. 4. PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA 5. ARCTIC & NORTHWEST: THE INUIT About 3,000 BCE, a group of people called the Inuit moved intoNorth America from Asia. They settled along the coasts of thetundra region, the treeless land south of the Arctic (in present-dayAlaska). The Inuit made harpoons and spears from antlers or tusks andwere skilled hunters of seal, caribou, and fish. They built homes of stones and turf. The igloo was used as atemporary shelter during traveling. 6. EASTERN WOODLANDS: THE MOUND BUILDERSAround 1,000 BCE, farming villagesappeared in the Eastern Woodlands, theland in eastern North America from theGreat Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.The best known people of this region werethe Hopewell people in the Ohio Rivervalley. The Hopewell culture extended alongthe Mississippi River. They are known forthe elaborate earth mounds they built fortombs or ceremonies. They came to beknown as the Mound Builders.The Mound Builders prospered and citiesBy 700 CE, most of these peoples hadbegan to appear, some of them containingshifted to full-time farming, growing more than 10,000 citizens. Onecorn, squash, and beans.city, Cahokia, is located near present-dayEast St. Louis. It flourished from 850 to1150, but collapsed in the 13th century forunknown reasons. 7. EASTERN WOODLANDS: THEIROQUOIS To the Northwest of the Mississippian culture were the peopleknown as the Iroquois. The Iroquois lived in villages thatconsisted of longhouses surrounded by wooden fences forprotection. Each longhouse housed about a dozen families. The Iroquois hunted deer, bear, caribou and small animals. Theywere also warriors who protected the community.Women owned thedwellings, planted theseeds and harvestedcrops primarilycorn, beans, and squash.Women also took care ofthe children. 8. IROQUOIS The Iroquois lived in modern-day Pennsylvania, New York, and partsof Southern Canada Wars were common among groups of Iroquois In the 1500s, the Iroquois were torn apart by war; Deganawida, an elder of thepeople appeared and preached the need for peace. Hiawatha, a member of the Onondaga group listened to Deganawida and helpednegotiate the Great Peace, which created an alliance of five groups called theIroquois League A council of representatives known as the Great Council met regularly to settledifferences among the league members Each Iroquois group was made up of clans (related families); the women of eachclan chose the most well-respected woman to be the clan mother; it was the clanmothers who chose the male members of the Grand Council The Grand Council was an experiment in democracy and helped theIroquois to deal with their problems. Some scholars believe that in 1754, Benjamin Franklin used the Iroquois Leagueas a model for a Plan of Union for the British Colonies. 9. PEOPLE OF THE GREAT PLAINS West of the Mississippi, the Plains Indians cultivatedbeans, corn, and squash. Every summer, the men left their villages to hunt buffalo, animportant animal in Plains Indian culture. The Plains Indians are known for their teepees made of buffalohide that provided shelter for their tribes. 10. PEOPLES OF THE SOUTHWEST:ANASAZI The Southwest covers the territory of present-day NewMexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. The Anasazi people established an extensive farming society inthe Southwest. Between 500 and 1200 CE, the Anasazi used canals and earthendams to turn parts of the desert into fertile gardens They were skilled at making baskets and pottery They used adobe to build pueblos, multi-storied structures thatcould house many people The Anasazi people created Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon, theheart of the Anasazi culture. They also built Mesa Verde, inColorado. 11. MESOAMERICA: OLMEC Mesoamerica is the areas of Mexico and Central America thatwere civilized before the Spanish arrived. The Olmec peoples began around 1200 BCE, living in theswampy lowlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico insouthern Mexico. The Olmecs farmed along the muddy riverbanks in Mesoamerica. The Olmec built large cities that were centers for their religiousrituals. One of these was La Venta, which had a pyramid thattowered above the city. Colossal stone heads, probably representing their gods, werefound at their religious sites. The Olmec civilization collapsed around 400 BCE. 12. MESOAMERICA: TEOTIHUACAN The first major city in Mesoamerica was Teotihuacan, the capitalof an early kingdom that arose around 250 BCE and collapsedaround 800 BCE. Teotihuacan was a busy trading center, although most of theresidents were probably farmers. Located near Mexico City in a fertile valley, Teotihuacan had asmany as 200,000 residents at its height. There weretemples, palaces, and pyramids at Teotihuacan. The Pyramid ofthe Sun is the most famous landmark of this early civilization. 13. MAYANSThe Mayans lived on theYucatan Peninsula (inbrown, right). This civilizationflourished between 300 and900 CE.The Mayans had one of themost advanced civilizations inthe Americas. They builttemples and pyramids anddeveloped a calendar.Eventually Mayan civilizationdeclined, possibly due tonatural disasters or invasion. 14. MAYAN CIVILIZATIONMayan cities were built around acentral pyramid topped by a shrine tothe gods.Nearby were othertemples, palaces, and a sacred ballcourt.Some scholars believe that the largesturban centers had up to 200,000people.Mayan civilization was composed ofcity-states, each governed by ahereditary ruling class. The city-stateswere often at war with each other.Soldiers who were captured in battlebecame slaves. Captured nobles andwar leaders were used for humansacrifice. 15. MAYAN SOCIETY Rulers of the Mayan city-states claimed to be descended fromgods Mayan society was build on a class structure: Rulers and Nobles were at the top Priests and scribes made up the next level Artists, merchants, and city officials were the next level Peasant farmers were near the bottom Slaves were at the bottom of the social classes Most of the Mayan people were peasant farmers, living on tinyplots of land in the terraced highlands The Mayans men did the fighting and hunting while women didthe homemaking and raising of children 16. MAYAN RELIGION The Mayans believed that all life was in the hands of divinepowers. Their supreme god was named Itzamna (Lizard House) Gods were ranked in order of importance and some gods wereconsidered evil or good The Mayans practiced human sacrifice as a way to appease thegods Human sacrifices were part of some religious rituals Prisoners of war were used as sacrifices for some ceremonies 17. MAYAN INVENTIONS Mayans used hieroglyphic writing, like the Egyptians, they hadpictures represent words and ideas When the Spanish invaded, they did not try to decipher Mayan language or writings Ignoring the native language helped bring about the downfall of Mayan civilization Mayans wrote on bark which they folded and then covered with plaster, they alsocarved onto clay, jade, bone, shells, and stone The Mayans also created a calendar called the Long Count. The calendar was based on the belief in cycles of creation and destruction The Mayans used two different systems for measuring time The solar calendar was 365 days, divided into 18 months of 20 days each, with an extra five days at the end The sacred calendar was 260 days, divided into 13 weeks of 20 days; only trained priests could read and use this calendar, which was used to foretell the future and know the omens associated with each day 18. TOLTEC CIVILIZATION The Toltec were located northwestof present-day Mexico City. The Toltec were a fierce andwarlike people who extended theirconquests into the Mayan lands The Toltec also built pyramids andpalaces The Toltec controlled the upperYucatan Peninsula from theircapital at Chichen Itza fromaround 900 CE to 1200 CE 19. AZTEC CIVILIZATION The origins of the Aztec are unknown; they began a migrationsometime during the 12th century and ended established their capitalat Tenochtitlan, on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, in whatis now Mexico City According to legend, when the Aztec arrived, other people forcedthem to live in a snake-infested region. Their survival strengthenedtheir belief in a sign that would come from their god of war and of thesun, Huitzilopochtli The god told them that when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus growing out ofa rock, their journey would end In 1325, under attack by another people, they were driven into theswamps and islands of Lake Texcoco, where they saw an eaglestanding on a prickly pear cactus on a rock. They built their citywhere they saw the eagle 20. AZTEC CIVILIZATION By 1500, as many as four million Aztecs lived in the Valley ofMexico and the surrounding valleys. The Aztecs were led by a monarch who claimed that he wasdescended from the gods. The ruler was assisted by a council oflords and government officials. Most of the population was comprised of commoners, indenturedworkers, and slaves Most commoners were farmers or engaged in trade Over half the population lived in cities 21. AZTEC SOCIETY Boys and girls in Aztec society were given different roles Boys were trained to be warriors Girls were trained to work in the home Women were allowed to own and inherit property and enter into contracts Some women became priestessess The Aztec believed in many gods Huitzilopochtli was the god of sun and war Quetzalcoatl was a feathered serpent god; because he was represented by anarrow protruding through a sapling, the Aztecs thought the Spanish, who carriedcrosses that looked like Quetzalcoatls symbol, were sent by him Aztecs believed religion was a struggle between the forces of goodand evil throughout the universe They believed the struggle led to the creation of four worlds, or suns; they thought they were living in the time of the fifth sun Aztecs practiced human sacrifice because they believed it would delay the destruction of their world 22. AZTEC DECLINE & DESTRUCTIONThe Aztecs had some internal fighting amongtheir empire, especially in the east where thelocal lords wanted greater independence. Thisled to some decline, but their destruction cameat the hands of the Spanairds.The Spanish landed in Aztec territory in 1519.Led by Hernan Cortes, the Spanish marchedto Tenochtitlan, making alliances with the city-states that were tired of being ruled by theAztecs.Cortes initially received a friendly welcome fromthe Aztecs, especially theirmonarch, Montezuma, who believed theSpanish were sent by Quetzlcoatl. 23. AZTEC DESTRUCTIONEventually tensions arose between theSpanish and Aztecs. The Spaniardstook Montezuma hostage and began topillage the city. In 1520, one year afterCortes arrived, the local populationrevolted and drove the Spanish from thecity.However, the Spanish had a long-lasting impact on the Aztec. Unable tofight off European diseases, many fellsick and died.Cortes leveled pyramids, destroyedtemples and palaces and then usedCortes also got fresh soldiers and otherthe stones to build governmentcity-states provided soldiers. Cortes buildings for the Spanish.attacked again and after four monthsEventually the Aztec werethe Aztec surrendered.completely destroyed. 24. SOUTH AMERICA The city of Caral is the oldestmajor city in the Americas.Believed to be 1000 years olderthan other ancient cities in theWestern Hemisphere, Caral islocated in the Supe River valleyin Peru. Caral developed a system ofirrigation, had apartmentAt Moche, a major urban center arose amidbuildings, grand residences andirrigated fields in the valley of the Mochegovernment buildings, all made River.of stone. Caral was abandoned sometime Farmers grew maizebetween 2000 and 1500 BCE. (corn), peanuts, potatoes, and cotton. In 200 BCE, another advancedcivilization developed nearMoche was the capital of a powerful stateEcuador. who practiced warfare and human sacrifice. 25. INCAN CIVILIZATION After the collapse of the Moche around700 CE, South America was in aperiod of decline. This lasted untilapproximately the 1300s, when theInca created an empire in SouthAmerica. In the late 1300s, the Inca were asmall community near Cuzco insouthern Peru Under the leadership of Pachacuti inthe 1400s, the Inca brought the entireregion under their control, creating avast empire. At its height, the Incanempire included 12 million people. 26. INCAN CIVILIZATION The Incan state was built on war and young men were required to serve inthe army The army had over 200,000 members and was the largest and best-armed inthe region Once the Incas took over a territory, the conquered people were required tolearn Quechua, the Incan language New territories were tightly controlled and regulated, with a high-rankingIncan noble sent to rule the region Pachacuti divided the empire into four quarters, with each ruled by agovernor, who divided the quarters into provinces, also ruled by a governor All the governors reported to the emperor, who was believed to bedescended from the Inti, the sun god The Inca had no writing system, but instead kept records using a system ofknotted strings called quipu. The Incans enacted plays and had poetry, which was handed down orally 27. INCA CIVILIZATION All Incan males were required to serve in the army All subjects in the Incan empire were responsible for laborservice for several weeks a year, where they were expected towork on building projects for the Incan empire Forced laborers were used to build roads, temples, and other buildings The Incan empire had a vast road system throughout theempire, based on one north-south corridor and one east-westcorridor Rest houses were built about a days walk apart, and stored with supplies fortravelers Storage depots were placed on the roads to help travelers The Incans also built extensive bridges, including suspension and riverbridges 28. INCAN SOCIETY Society was highly regimented, meaning people could not escapethe pre-conceived society Men and women were required to select a marriage partner from within theirown social group Women were expected to care for children and the home Some girls were chosen to become priestesses for the temples In rural areas, people were primarily farmers They used terraced farming in the mountains They grew corn, potatoes, and other crops 29. INCAN CULTURE The Incans were great builders;one set of ruins, at MachuPicchu, shows the architecturalgenius of the Inca Machu Picchu is a small citybuilt on the side of a mountainnear the Urubamba River Long stairways, anobservatory, and religiousstructures are all included atMachu Picchu 30. INCAN DECLINE The Incan Empire was flourishing when the Spanish arrived In 1531, Francisco Pizarro arrived in South America with about180 men The Spanish brought disease with them to South America Hundreds of Incans died of small pox The Emperor of the Incas died of the small pox After the death of the Emperor, his two sons fought for control ofthe empire, which led to civil war Pizarro took advantage of the civil war andcaptured, Atahuallpa, one of the brothers, who was executed byPizarro By 1535, Pizarro had conquered the Inca and built a capital inLima, Peru