Transcript Introducing Early America - Bryn Mawr School Faculty Web Pages

Introducing Early America
How/When/Why people came to
the Americas?
People came from Asia
over the land-bridge
known as BERINGIA. (
any other explanations?)
Occurred at the end of the
last ice age, approx. 1.9
million to 10,000 BC.
Siberian hunters followed
the animals who migrated
Debated Information :
how and when, so much
depends on archeological
data…still finding new
evidence.
Lifestyle of early Americans
Hunter-Gatherers. (The
mammoth weighed 7 tons,
provided tons of resources)
Nomadic
End of the ice-age, 10 –
12,000 years ago meant
end of travel over
Beringia.
Change in lifestyle Agriculture
Occurs ca. 7000 BC in central
Mexico.
By 3400 BC Maize/Corn most
important crop.
Slash & Burn techniques
“Floating gardens” (Chinampas)
as new farming method: islands
created in the middle of
swamps/lakes….led to 3 harvests
in one year.
Slash & Burn
Chinampas
Terracing (Cajete Terraces)
Ancient Mesoamerican societies constructed these
“catches” to stop the water from heavy rain from eroding
soil and crops off the slopes. They also would store water
after the rain.
More Food = Civilization
Grows
Provide a list of effects farming has
on a community