The Earliest Americans lived as Hunters and Gatherers

1
The Earliest Americans lived as Hunters and
Gatherers

• 1. Toward the end of the last Ice Age. By foot
  over a land bridge from Asia or in small boats
• 2. Hunted smaller prey, fished, and gathered
  edible plants and fruits

2
The Earliest Americans began to experiment with
simple methods of farming

• 3. People began planting and harvesting preferred
  edible plants from seeds
• 4. Maize, squashes, beans, avocados, chilies

3
Agriculture Dramatically Changed Peoples Way of
Life

• 5. Farming gave a reliable food supply, people
  could settle in villages and expanded life
  expectancy
• 6. Farming allowed for developed skills, created
  social classes and nonagricultural activities

4
Early Mesoamerican Civilizations - Olmec

• Geography located along the Gulf Coast of
  Mexico, covered with swamps, rain forest and
  fertile river flood plains, hot and humid.
  Resources include salt, tar, clay wood, rubber
• Urban Design pyramids, plazas, giant
  sculptures, thriving urban communities

5
Olmec Civilization

• Economy Large and Prosperous trading network
  throughout Mesoamerica
• Achievements ruling class, urban societies,
  ritual ball games, ceremonial centers

6
Zapotec

• Geography Mountainous region in southern
  Mexico, fertile soil and mild climate in valleys
• Urban Design planned cities, pyramids, temples,
  palaces around a giant plaza
• Language Hieroglyphic writing system
• Achievements urban planning calendar system
  based on movements of the sun