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