US History 8/31
Review time lines and 6th grade terms
Look at Primary and Secondary sources
How do we use these sources.
When Reading can we Identify he Authors purpose.
Distinguish between Facts and Opinions
Identify Evidence
Identify Credibility
9/1/2015
The First Americans
How did the first Americans get here?
There are several theories.
The Land Bridge Theory
Between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago, much of the world was
covered by Ice and Glaciers. Glaciers are thick sheets of ice,
which move, very slowly.
During this time, when things froze, the ocean levels dropped
which expose shallow areas. These shallow areas became dry
land. One of these areas stretched between Siberia and Alaska.
Scientists believe that people used this landbridge to come to
North America about 20 to 30 thousand years ago, probably
following game to hunt.
Other Theories
Some scientists believe that early Americans may have come
across the artic waters by boat, or canoes. They believe that
these people followed the pacific coast south down into Central
and South American. This is know as the Coastal Theory.
Learning to Farm, the game changer in human history.
The first humans were hunter. They were nomadic. Nomadic
means that they moved very often in search of wandering
game. When an area began to lack animals to kill and eat they
packed up and went in search of more to hunt. Because of this
their shelters were simple. Often they could be transported
with them or natural shelters like caves were used. Hence the
Cavemen. The land bridge theory suggest that these hunters
followed large animals like the mammoth into North America.
It was only natural for them to progress south toward the
equator, because it was warmer. Over time the larger animals
began to disappear. This did not happen overnight and it was a
gradual change. During this change humans began to find
other food in the form of plants and other smaller animals.
While they still hunted now they also were gathering to
supplement their diets. They now were know as Hunter
gatherers. When small game ran out or seasons changed,
which made it hard to find plant food, they would migrate to a
new area. So even though their diet had changed they were
still nomadic. They would leave their shelters, or pack them
up, and move in search of food. They knew that wherever they
stayed was just temporary. In the story of early Americans, it
is known that a group of hunter gatherers in Mexico
discovered agriculture about 8,000 years ago. They began
growing food like squash and lima beans. This was the game
changer. Now families did not have to keep moving. They
could plant and grow a stable food source which could last
them throughout the year. In areas that were dry they began
to develop methods of Irrigation. Irrigation is a method to
water crops by channeling water from rivers or streams. Along
with growing crops they also began to raise animals. This is
known as domestication. Early American civilizations began
to domesticate cattle, pigs, and llamas.
Once people began to have surplus food supplies they began to
trade with one another.
This led to farming communities growing into cities with
markets where people would gather and trade.
These communities grew in population and began to spawn
religions and government.
Small cities led to the development of civilizations.
9/2/2015
Civilization is an advanced culture in which people have
developed cities, science, and industries.
Characteristics of Civilization
Historians, anthropologists, and other scholars have identified
several core characteristics of civilization. Some of the most
commonly suggested characteristics include urban centers,
agricultural manipulation and storage, irrigation, written language,
standards of measurements, craftsmanship technology, social
stratification, state government, a common religion and/or
ideological outlook, and a shared culture. Let's quickly go through
these terms just to make sure we understand how they contribute to
civilization.
Urban centers, of course, would include cities or villages
throughout the territory occupied by a civilization. Agricultural
manipulation and storage is important because it allows people to
ensure their future livelihood, rather than just scrounge for food on
a day-by-day basis. Irrigation allows for the growth of crops, and
in some cases, clean drinking water and even plumbing.
A written language unites a people, and allows them to
communicate ideas with one another. A common system of
measurements means that two people understand the same quantity
of an object, distance, etc... Craftsmanship technology allows for
the building of complex structures, tools, and art.
Social stratification is a fancy way of saying different classes of
people - you know, rulers, laborers, slaves, etc... State government
refers to a common legal system of political authority. Religion
and ideology refer to what a people group believes about God,
gods, and/or the way the world works. Perhaps most importantly,
culture refers to the way of life among a particular group of
people.
One of the most important theorists of civilization was V. Gordon
Childe, who lived from 1892 to 1957. Many of the characteristics
listed above were theorized by him. Not everyone agrees with his
ideas, however. Other scholars have proposed other sets of criteria.
For example, some have suggested forms of taxation or tribute are
characteristic of civilization. Others argue military forces,
education systems, and monumental architecture should be
included. So you see, not everyone totally agrees on every single
point. The bottom line, however, is that civilization exerts
control over nature.
9/3/2015
Meso American Culture
Mayans- height of power was between 250 and 900 A.D.
Spanish Conquest in the 1500’s completed a Mayan genocide.
They had very large organized cities in Central American and
Mexico.
Mayans developed art, written language, system of government,
social stratification, agriculture, calendars, mathematics, and
sports.
They began to leave their cities in 900 A.D. probably due to
disease and overpopulation.
Aztecs
Came into power when the Mayan civilization began to dwindle.
Had a huge Capital city called Tenochtitlan which was a floating
city and contained 200,000 people. This was probably the largest
city in the world at the time.
Aztec culture was dominated by religion. There were large
temples in their town centers.
They believed that prosperity was directly related to their gods
being pleased.
They practiced human sacrifice as a way to please their gods. If
the weather was bad guess what…….
During the 1400’s Aztec armies brought half of Mexico under their
control. They were harsh rulers but very effective in keeping the
people under control. This is something you will notice all
throughout history.
People under their rule paid taxes.
This eventually led to their downfall, greed defeated them, when
they needed to be united. Again, the Spanish Conquest put an end
to their race.
Incas
During the 1400’s the largest Empire on earth was found in South
America. The Incan empire stretched down the coast of South
America along the Andes into the Amazon rain forest.
The Incan capital was Cuzco. It was linked to other smaller towns
by roads which still exist today.
The Incans were great architects who built walls to hold soil in
their fields, canals to carry water, and bridges over deep canyons.