Chapter 9, Lesson 1The Earliest Americas

The Americas’ first inhabitants developed the basis for later American civilizations.

Beringia (View map on page 237)

What 2 continents does the Beringia land bridge connect? Asia and North America

From where do scholars believe the first Americans came? How did they come? From Asia, they traveled across either

the Beringia land bridge or the Pacific Ocean.

Ice Age

Maize

Chapter 9, Lesson 2Early Mesoamerican Civilizations THE OLMEC CIVILIZATION – The

“mother culture”

The Zapotec Civilization

Origin: Oaxaca Valley

Capital of their home: Monte Albán

A Lasting Legacy

The Olmec Art can be seen

in many pottery & sculptures of later civilizations.

Urban design

The Zapotec First city builders Writing system &

calendar

Ch9.L3 Early Civilizations of the Andes

As Mesoamerican civilizations flourished, 3 others were also developing further down in South America. These 3 civilizations were:

ChavínNazcaMoche

Andes Mountains

Chavín Civilization (900 B.C. – 200 B.C.)

Considered the “mother culture” for South America.

Religious organization

Nazca Civilization (200 B.C. – A.D. 600)

Accomplishments Nazca Lines Irrigation

systems Beautiful

textiles and pottery

Moche Culture (A.D. 100 – A.D. 700)

Known for enormous wealth

Enjoyed a balanced diet: fish, game, & variety of crops grown