Chapter 1: Roots of American People

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Chapter 1 Roots of American People
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A. Earliest Americans

• Between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago, glaciers
  covered most of the world, using water in oceans
• Left land bridge exposed for people/animals to
  migrate from Asia to N.A. Bering Strait
• People followed animals from Siberia and moved
  through North and South America

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• Farming around 8000 years ago people began
  growing plants Mexico
• Farming allowed people to settle, didnt have to
  follow animals
• Irrigation developed as people needed water
• Surplus extra food, formed as people began to
  grow crops and were able to trade for other items
• Cities/civilizations formed

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• Three civilizations advanced cultures with
  developed cities, science, industry (writing)
• Mayans 250-900 AD Mexico Central America
• Public plazas (squares) lined with pyramids,
  temples, courts and palaces
• Developed art, government and written language
• Most accurate calendar known to man
• Simply abandoned
  their cities, unknown.

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• Aztecs built city of Tenochtitlan at present
  Mexico City area
• Harsh people believed in many gods, human
  sacrifice
• Conquered many others, forced taxes
• Eventually beaten by Spanish
• Incas Largest empire in 1400s
• Capital city Cuzco, vast system of roads built
  of stones
• Canals to carry water, bridges, metalwork,
  jewelry, etc.

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B. Culture of North America

• Mound builders burial shrines,
• MS valley to Appalachian Mountains,
• Anazasi cliff dwellers, traders, made baskets
  and jewelry
• West UT, CO thru NM
• Hohokam dug irrigation canals, traders
• AZ

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C. Trade Networks Africa Asia

• Trade has always linked people
• Linked Europe to Asia and passed through most of
  East and Middle East
• Trade led to rise of Islam founded by Muhammad
• Quran sacred book
• Spread through conquest and trade
• Arab scholars made intellectual advances

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• West Africa
• Ghana, Mali were important trading centers in
  West Africa that brought people together,
  introduced Islam
• Mansa Musa Muslim ruler of Mali, expanded Islam
• Mali taken over by Songhai kingdom

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• East Asia Trade
• China established trade with other parts of the
  world
• Great navigators invented compass, began
  sailing trade routes
• Silk Road most important trade route in history
• Series of roads from China to Europe
• Traded silks and spices from east with products
  in west
• Grew Middle East

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D. European Heritage

• Judeo-Christian traditions 2 religions shaped
  beliefs and values in Europe
• Judaism monotheistic, Old Testament
• One and only God in heaven, not rulers
• People not above the law
• Christianity inspired by Jesus teachings
• Emphasized love, mercy and forgiveness
• Attractive to many people, spread quick
• Romans persecute Christians, later accept it

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• Greek and Roman traditions inspire American
  ideology
• Athens, Greece direct democracy where every
  adult male could vote
• Women, slaves and foreigners couldnt vote
• Democracy depended on education took boys and
  educated them

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• Rome, Italy developed traditions in law
  government
• Rome republic where people choose
  representatives to vote for them
• Senate and assembly made laws in Rome
• Rome code of laws where everyone was equal,
  innocent until proven guilty

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• Middle Ages time of feudalism after Roman
  Empire fell
• Catholic church great power
• Lords owned land, vassals worked it

• The Crusades Pope led crusades to take back
  Holy land
• 1. Put Europeans in contact with Muslims and
  different foods/technology

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• Renaissance time of rebirth of learning
• Printing press invented more books available
• New art
• Nation states emerge
• Reformation Martin Luther wanted to reform
  Catholic church formed Protestantism

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• Age of Exploration new ideas, peoples and
  learning/curiousity interested people in
  exploring outside their country
• Henry the Navigator Portuguese Prince
• Center for exploration mathematics, map-making,
  navigation taught
• Vasco de Gama sailed around tip of Africa to
  India important trade route