The Americas

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Source 1

Native Americans say they have always lived in their homelands. However, archaeologists say prehistoric hunters from northeastern Asia arrived about 20,000 years ago in what is today Alaska. They are believed to be among the first people to settle the region called the Americas. Their descendants are called Native Americans. Over the centuries, Native American groups adopted different ways of liFe. Each group’s way of life was based on local resources. The four geographical areAs of the Americas are North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. North America and South America are both continents and make up most of the Americas. Central America is an isthmus,

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a narrow piece of land that connects two larger areas of land. East of Central America is the Caribbean Sea, where the Caribbean islands spread across to the Atlantic Ocean. Growing and trading crops helped early Americans form more complex societies. The first AmeRican cultures emerged in Mesoamerica, or Central America, and along the western coast of South America. Unlike the civilizations that developed near the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, the Nile River Valley, or the Indus River Valley, the first American civilizations did not develop along great rivers.

Source 2

Source 3

About 400 B.C., the Olmec culture collapsed. A group of inland peopleS rose to power in central Mexico. This group built one of the first planned cities in the Americas, Teotihuacan, or “place of the gods.” It lasted from about 250 A.D. to 800 A.D. Around 120,000 to 200,000 people lived in Teotihuacan. Temples and palaces lined its main street, which led to the Pyramid of the Sun. Another people called the Maya prospered in the steamy rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Maya traded throughout Mesoamerica and from their central location, the Maya spread into southern Mexico and Central America.

About 1200 B.C., a people called the Olmec built what might be the oldest culture in Mesoamerica. Based on farming and trade, the Olmec lasted about 800 years. As the population grew, the Olmec set up farms in the tropical lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico. They grew beans and produced salt, which they traded with people living inland. They exchanged salt and beans for jade and obsidian, or volCanic glass. Olmec artisans used the jade for jewelry. They made sharp knives from the obsidian. The Olmec created centers for religious ceremonies. In these areas, they built pyramids and other stone monuments.

Source 4

greatest Maya kIng was Pacal II. He ruled the city-state of Palenque for 67 years in the 600 A.D. Pacal II built many structures considered to be some of the best examples of Maya architecture, including pyramids. The Maya city-states had a strict class system. Nobles and priests assisted kings in governing the city-states. Below them were farmers, artisans, and hunters. People of this class paid taxes and worked on large building projects, such as temples and palaces.

About 200 A.D. the Maya developed a complex culture in parts of Southern Mexico and Central America. The ancient Maya faced many challenges in the area that they settled, which was called Peten. Thick forests nearly blocked out sunlight. Stinging insects filled the air. Yet, the ancient Maya prospered. The Maya began to develop a soCiety. They set up more than 50 independent city-states. Large city-states like Tikal in Guatemala and Calakmul in Mexico were connected by culture, political ties, and trade. However, they often fought one another for control of territory. Each Maya city-state was ruled by a king, believed to be descended from the sun god. As god-kings, Maya rulers expected people to serve. them. The

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Source 5

“The dIsmal drum of Huichilobos sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in...defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed. When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos. Then after they had danced the papas [native priests] laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts which they offered to the idols before them”-Bernal Díaz, The ConquEst of New Spain, vol. II, chapter 152

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Source 1

Native Americans say they have always lived in their homelands. However, archaeologists say prehistoric hunters from northeastern Asia arrived about 20,000 years ago in what is today Alaska. They are believed to be among the first people to settle the region called the Americas. Their descendants are called Native Americans. Over the centuries, Native American groups adopted different ways of liFe. Each group’s way of life was based on local resources. The four geographical areAs of the Americas are North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. North America and South America are both continents and make up most of the Americas. Central America is an isthmus,

Back

a narrow piece of land that connects two larger areas of land. East of Central America is the Caribbean Sea, where the Caribbean islands spread across to the Atlantic Ocean. Growing and trading crops helped early Americans form more complex societies. The first AmeRican cultures emerged in Mesoamerica, or Central America, and along the western coast of South America. Unlike the civilizations that developed near the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, the Nile River Valley, or the Indus River Valley, the first American civilizations did not develop along great rivers.

Source 2

Source 3

About 400 B.C., the Olmec culture collapsed. A group of inland peopleS rose to power in central Mexico. This group built one of the first planned cities in the Americas, Teotihuacan, or “place of the gods.” It lasted from about 250 A.D. to 800 A.D. Around 120,000 to 200,000 people lived in Teotihuacan. Temples and palaces lined its main street, which led to the Pyramid of the Sun. Another people called the Maya prospered in the steamy rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Maya traded throughout Mesoamerica and from their central location, the Maya spread into southern Mexico and Central America.

About 1200 B.C., a people called the Olmec built what might be the oldest culture in Mesoamerica. Based on farming and trade, the Olmec lasted about 800 years. As the population grew, the Olmec set up farms in the tropical lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico. They grew beans and produced salt, which they traded with people living inland. They exchanged salt and beans for jade and obsidian, or volCanic glass. Olmec artisans used the jade for jewelry. They made sharp knives from the obsidian. The Olmec created centers for religious ceremonies. In these areas, they built pyramids and other stone monuments.

Source 4

greatest Maya kIng was Pacal II. He ruled the city-state of Palenque for 67 years in the 600 A.D. Pacal II built many structures considered to be some of the best examples of Maya architecture, including pyramids. The Maya city-states had a strict class system. Nobles and priests assisted kings in governing the city-states. Below them were farmers, artisans, and hunters. People of this class paid taxes and worked on large building projects, such as temples and palaces.

About 200 A.D. the Maya developed a complex culture in parts of Southern Mexico and Central America. The ancient Maya faced many challenges in the area that they settled, which was called Peten. Thick forests nearly blocked out sunlight. Stinging insects filled the air. Yet, the ancient Maya prospered. The Maya began to develop a soCiety. They set up more than 50 independent city-states. Large city-states like Tikal in Guatemala and Calakmul in Mexico were connected by culture, political ties, and trade. However, they often fought one another for control of territory. Each Maya city-state was ruled by a king, believed to be descended from the sun god. As god-kings, Maya rulers expected people to serve. them. The

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Source 5

“The dIsmal drum of Huichilobos sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in...defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed. When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos. Then after they had danced the papas [native priests] laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts which they offered to the idols before them”-Bernal Díaz, The ConquEst of New Spain, vol. II, chapter 152

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