The First Americans&

European TraditionsChapter 1 Notes

The First Americans First people came to

the Americas from Asia

1st THEORY◦ Land Bridge Theory

Land bridge that now lies under the Bering Strait

Became exposed when many glaciers covered the earth

2nd THEORY◦ Coastal Route Theory

First people crossed the Arctic waters by boat

3rd THEORY◦ Native Americans

believed in the creation theory

The First Americans

Learning to farm◦ Earliest people were

hunters and gatherers◦ Large animals disappeared◦ First farming took place in

Mexico◦ Some farmers had a

surplus and began trading◦ Farming communities grew

into cities which became centers for government and religious life

The First Americans

Mayas◦ First great civilization◦ Built cities with public plazas,

pyramids, temples, ball courts, and palaces

Aztecs◦ Tenochtatlan- capital of Aztec

empire◦ Religion dominated Aztec life◦ Prosperity depended on the good

will of the gods Incas

◦ Cuzco- capital city of Inca empire◦ Built a great network of roads

Three Civilizations

What is Culture? Culture means a way of life

◦ This includes traditions, religion, art, music, celebrations, etc.

◦ The world around us is full of many different cultures that we can all learn from

First Cultures of North America

Mound Builders - various groups who constructed large piles of earth◦ Dickson Mounds

Mississippians - mound builders who built the first cities in North America

Anasazi- built into large cliffs

For what purposes were the mounds built?

Burial places and foundations for public buildings

Shared beliefs◦ Close relationship to the

natural world

◦ Believed spirits dwelled in nature and spirits were part of their daily lives

◦ Traditions reflected these beliefs

◦ Storytellers passed down traditions from one generation to the next

Ways of Life

Far North◦ Used kayaks – boats

made from skins

◦ Hunters and gatherers

Northwest◦ Lived in permanent

settlements

◦ Hunters and gatherers

Far West◦ Housing varied

depending on geographic regions

Southwest◦ Farmed and hunted

Native Americans of North America

Great Plains◦ Farmers

◦ Followed buffalo across the plains

Eastern Woodlands◦ Lived by farming, hunting, gathering, and fishing

◦ 2 main groups: Algonquian and Iroquois

◦ Iroquois women had great influence in their society

◦ 5 Iroquois nations formed a league called the League of the Iroquois

Native Americans of North America, cont.

Southeast◦ Farmers

◦ Built houses on wooden frames

Native Americans of North America, cont.

What challenges did those in the Far North and Southwest face for making a living?

North = too cold for farmingSouth = had to collect and store

rain water for dry times

What of the regions do you think Illinois is in?

Great Plains

Greek and Roman Traditions Roman government and law

gave citizens individual rights defined out to themoFormed a republic and were

able to vote and choose representatives to govern them.

oU.S. founders used this same set up when they began America

Judeo-Christian Tradition European beliefs & values

were shaped by two religions

1. Judaism

2. Christianity Judaism – first major

religion to teach monotheism

◦ Belief in only one god

Judeo-Christian Tradition, cont.

Christianity – started by a Jewish teacher known as Jesus through his life

and teachings Romans viewed

Christianity as a political threat but later embraced it and it became the main religion in Europe and the

Roman Empire.

The Muslim Link in Trade Islam – started by a man

named Muhammad

◦Followers are called Muslims

◦Qur’an (Holy Book) Arab scholars made great

advances in astrology and were able to measure the Earth, proving it to be a sphere.

Old Testament (Judaism)

New Testament (Christianity)

Qur'an(Islam)

Together, what are these three religions called?

The AbrahamicReligions

Catholic Church was the power which controlled almost all European governments◦ No such thing as a separation of Church from

State.◦ Most people were illiterate; Priests would be

educated and they told the masses what God and The Bible expected of them.

Catholic Church

New Horizons Life started to revolve around the Catholic Church

◦ Pope Urban II started Crusades (“holy wars”) to reclaim the “Holy Land” (Jerusalem) from Muslim conquerors.

◦ Each Crusade failed but Europe was exposed to new cultures due to the wars between Christians and Muslims

African Link in Trade Trade network linked

Europe, Africa, & Asia Africa became the most

powerful trading centeroMost powerful was

ZimbabweoSlave trading became

popular

Asia became the technology center of the time◦ Printing with

moveable type

◦ Gun powder

◦ Magnetic compass & navigation methods

East Asian Link in Trade

East Asian Link in Trade, cont.

Most populated country at the time was China◦Hangzhou– was the

world’s largest city by the 1200’s

Key trade route the Silk Road◦ Series of great trade

routes that stretched 5,000 miles

New Beginnings The Renaissance –

“rebirth” of learning – caused a

great flood of education and

culture into European society◦ Started becoming

interested in exploring the New

World for trade, etc.

Reformation Group of Catholics wanted to change the

abuses of the Catholic Church…they protested the Pope.

Pope didn’t appreciate it, as you might imagine.

Church split into “Catholics” and “Protestants”…this will seriously impact the settlement of North America by European Powers.